via Mliswa dismisses Zanu PF return claims – New Zimbabwe 11/11/2015
FORMER Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman, Temba Mliswa, has ruled out a return to the ruling party following his expulsion last year.
State media reports have claimed that the former legislator is “pleading” to return from the cold.
But Mliswa rubbished this as an “agenda” meant to woo party stalwarts stampeded out in an acrimonious power struggle to take over from ailing President Robert Mugabe.
“I experienced the other side of Zanu PF after being expelled and when I decided to contest the Hurungwe West by-election,” Mliswa told a press briefing in the capital Wednesday.
“The negative reports from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission indicating violence perpetrated by Zanu PF is not what this party stands for.
“I realised then this is no longer the party I had joined as a youth and whose ideals I had defended.”
Mliswa was axed from Zanu PF as part of a brutal campaign that also claimed the scalp of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru and other leaders accused of plotting to oust Mugabe.
He said when he was suspended and subsequently sacked, he had written to then national chairman and now party spokesperson Simon Khaya-Moyo demanding a hearing but never got a response.
“I wrote to the party national chairman at the time Simon Khaya-Moyo who now responds to media stories asking me to follow procedure,” said Mliswa.
“I wonder what kind of procedure he wants me to follow when I am likely the only affected individual who ever requested a formal hearing.
“I was never accorded this despite copying the same letters to party president Robert Mugabe. I cannot re-join a party that is on fire; it would be like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
“How can I join a party in which already those who are in there have preconceived ideas of which faction I belong to.”
The former Zanu PF central committee member described First Lady Grace Mugabe as a “hurricane that will happen again”.
He was referring to Grace’s campaign to get rid of Mujuru last year along with a host of party top brass accused of plotting to depose Mugabe.
Mliswa warned there could be a second round of expulsions in the ruling party as tensions rise and uncertainty over the leadership of the party continues.
“My letter of appeal was never responded to and as chairman of the party at the time Khaya-Moyo had the onus of doing this.
“Khaya-Moyo has a bit of time to do the right thing; go back to his files when he was chairman before Hurricane Grace hits again.
“It hit and got rid of us but the second phase is coming,” Mliswa said.
Khaya-Moyo then national chairman and reportedly a vital member of the Mujuru group survived by the skin of his teeth and was demoted to the position of information chief.
COMMENTS