Mliswa booted out

via Mliswa booted out 10 October 2014 by Nunurai Jena

EMBATTLED Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman Temba Mliswa was yesterday booted out in a vote of no confidence at a hastily-organised provincial executive committee meeting at Chinhoyi University Hotel.

Mliswa on Tuesday survived a no-confidence vote hatched by his rivals after some of the provincial leaders chickened out at the eleventh hour and refused to sign the petition.

But yesterday, a total of 28 of out of the 50 provincial members allegedly finally voted to eject Mliswa from his position.

The meeting was tense and was temporarily disrupted by some rowdy members.

Zanu PF Mashonaland West vice-chairman Ziyambi Ziyambi, who said he was now the interim leader of the province, confirmed Mliswa’s ouster.

He said the no-confidence vote was in line with the Article 29 (2.6.1) of the party’s constitution where a simple majority is required to boot out an official.

“The final fate of Mliswa will be sealed when the PCC [provincial coordinating committee] meets either to endorse or reject what we have done today,” Ziyambi said.

However, Mliswa rejected the vote of no confidence, saying the meeting was not procedural.

“It is a non-event. It’s unconstitutional and it was an unsanctioned meeting with only 21 members present,” Mliswa said.

Ziyambi said he could not divulge the basis of the no-confidence vote before presenting their report to Zanu PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo.

On Tuesday, Mliswa scoffed at the plot, describing it as misguided and meant to stifle robust debate on issues affecting the ruling party.

“I’m aware and prepared for such eventualities because some politburo members have not rested since the day I was elected beating their sponsored candidates,” Mliswa said then.

Mliswa has had several run-ins with his peers in and outside the province with some politburo members openly labeling him a rabble rouser.

Two Zanu PF MPs from Mashonaland West province, Christopher Mutsvangwa (Norton) and Runesu Blessed Geza (Sanyati), last week petitioned President Robert Mugabe to rein in Mliswa whom they accused of sowing seeds of disunity in the party and disregarding protocol.

Prior to that, the Hurungwe West MP had been slapped by provincial treasurer Beauty Zhuwao during a highly-charged provincial meeting in Chinhoyi.

Mliswa has been cited among the party’s infamous “Dirty Dozen MPs” following allegations that he received development aid from the United States Embassy in exchange for “selling out” party secrets, allegations that the legislators have denied.