Zanu PF fires Mujuru

via Zanu PF fires Mujuru – NewsDay Zimbabwe April 3, 2015 by Moses Matenga/Obey Manayiti

THE Zanu PF politburo yesterday expelled ousted former Vice-President Joice Mujuru accusing her of among other charges, plotting to topple President Robert Mugabe and fanning factionalism in the ruling party.

Mugabe chaired the explosive politburo meeting which also reversed party national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere’s decision to allow 12 candidates to contest the Headlands party primaries tomorrow. First Lady Grace Mugabe attended the meeting.

Mujuru joins a growing list of former party stalwarts who have been axed over the same charges since last year.

These include axed Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa, former spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, ex-war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda and former Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Temba Mliswa.

Mujuru joined Zanu PF as a teenager during the 1970s war of liberation and at Independence in 1980 was one of the youngest women Cabinet ministers. She served government in various ministries as a Cabinet minister and Mashonaland Central governor until her appointment as Mugabe’s second-in-command in 2004.

She unceremoniously lost both her Vice President and Zanu PF second secretary posts last December after Mugabe publicly accused her of corruption, witchcraft, plotting to assassinate and topple him, among other charges.

She has, however, denied the charges and challenged her detractors to prove their claims in a court of law.

Her alleged boardroom coup plot was first exposed by the First Lady during her Meet the People Tours just before the December congress.

Zanu PF national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo last night, said: “The politburo today resolved to expel Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru from Zanu PF after receiving a detailed report from the national disciplinary committee chaired by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.”

Other members of the committee included commissar Kasukuwere, secretary for legal affairs Patrick Chinamasa, secretary for security Kembo Mohadi and secretary for youth affairs Pupurai Togarepi.

Chinamasa, according to Khaya Moyo, compiled the
report after receiving submissions from different organs of the party.

Mujuru was also fired for allegedly orchestrating the “bhora musango campaign” in 2008 that resulted in Mugabe losing the first round of the presidential plebiscite to MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and fanning factionalism.

Tsvangirai, however, boycotted the second round leading to the formation of the Government of National Unity in 2009.

According to Khaya Moyo, other reasons for her dismissal were: “abusing structures to create a centre of power, engaging in behaviour unbecoming of a VP and systematically colluding with the enemy in a manner that undermined the party.”

The party also accused Mujuru of “engaging in activities that smack of corruption and engaging in criminal abuse of office, undermining the party and President and providing leadership to the regime change agenda were given as some of the reasons for her expulsion.”

Khaya Moyo added: “The politburo felt she (Mujuru) has lacked the quality of strong moral principles, honesty and decency and therefore ceases to be a member of Zanu PF from today.”

Mujuru could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print last night.

Khaya Moyo also said that most party members who had votes of no confidence passed against them last year will receive their letters and will be prohibited from holding any leadership positions in the party for two years starting January 1 2015.

These included nine provincial party chairpersons for Midlands, Masvingo, Mashonaland East, Manicaland, Matabeleland South, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, Bulawayo and Harare.
Khaya Moyo said for the Headlands by-election, only five candidates had been approved to stand in the primary elections set for Sunday instead of the 12 names announced by Kasukuwere on Wednesday.