PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF continued with its purges yesterday, firing eight war veterans’ leaders and a former Cabinet minister.
Source: Zanu PF axe falls on war vets – NewsDay Zimbabwe August 4, 2016
BY RICHARD CHIDZA
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association secretary-general Victor Matemadanda, spokesperson Douglas Mahiya, national commissar Francis Nhando and deputy chairperson Headman Moyo, currently in the eye of a storm following the release of a damning communiqué, were expelled from the party yesterday.
Zanu PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo told journalists following a politburo meeting that four other unnamed members had also been expelled by the national disciplinary committee currently chaired by legal secretary Patrick Chinamasa.
“The national disciplinary committee deliberated on several cases and these include the expulsion of eight members and one had his suspension lifted. A number of members had their cases withdrawn over procedural irregularities,” Chombo said.
“We can also confirm that Matemadanda, Mahiya, Nhando and Moyo are no longer members of the party.”
Asked if the politburo had discussed the issue of the stinging communiqué that has rattled Mugabe’s party and government, Chombo retorted: “I have already said those four (war veteran leaders) have been expelled.”
Mugabe was left on edge after the former freedom fighters issued a damning communiqué last month withdrawing their support for the former guerilla leader ahead of the 2018 elections and calling on the Zanu PF leader to step down.
The war veterans also accused Mugabe of running down the economy, genocidal and dictatorial tendencies as well as human rights abuses.
Mugabe reacted in typical heavy-handed fashion, unleashing police to round up at least seven of the leadership of the former fighters. Five of them are now on bail awaiting trial for allegedly insulting Mugabe, while two who gave themselves up yesterday are yet to appear before the courts.
The axe finally fell on Chimanimani West lawmaker Munacho Mutezo, a former Water minister, yesterday. Mutezo was expelled by the disciplinary appeals committee of the central committee chaired by Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko.
“The disciplinary appeals committee has been sitting and reviewed several cases. In total, 25 cases were heard which resulted in the expulsion of one member, while 14 cases of two-year suspensions were upheld and will run until completion in December 2016,” Chombo said
“The appeals committee still has 27 cases to review in the coming sittings and this will mark the end of all the appeals.”
Chombo added that Mutezo, who has been linked with former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First party, had been given a chance to defend himself and failed.
“We gave him an opportunity to defend himself and he came. He was, however, confronted with facts from which he could not defend himself. He can now choose to join People First or any other party. We will now have a by-election in his constituency,” Chombo said.
The Zanu PF secretary for administration said the issue of three provincial chairpersons Biggie Matiza (Mashonaland East), Ezra Chadzamira (Masvingo) and Kizito Chivamba (Midlands) suspended for allegedly trying to stop party supporters from attending a rally in February would be decided next week.
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