Mujuru’s ‘100’ MPs survive axe

via Mujuru’s ‘100’ MPs survive axe – NewsDay Zimbabwe January 27, 2015

ZANU PF has suddenly made a U-turn on its earlier threats to expel and recall from Parliament over 100 MPs reportedly linked to ousted ex-Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

The recall would have automatically forced President Robert Mugabe to dissolve Parliament and proclaim dates for fresh elections.
Mujuru, who was stripped of both her government and party positions last year following allegations she harboured plans to unconstitutionally topple Mugabe, is believed to have the support of over 100 Zanu PF MPs.

In an interview with NewsDay after addressing the Zanu PF Manicaland provincial co-ordinating committee in Mutare yesterday, party national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere denied that there had been a push to recall and expel the alleged “rebel MPs”.

This was despite the fact that Manicaland acting provincial chairperson Samuel Undenge had briefed him about the province’s plans to axe the MPs.

“Our position has been very clear that all members of the party who have not been expelled from the party remain members of the party and they will not be recalled from Parliament unless one has been expelled and the party decides to go for a by-election, then that will be a different story,” Kasukuwere said.

He said no resolution had been made to fire the legislators from the House, despite calls by provincial party structures to recall the MPs for allegedly siding with the Mujuru camp.

Kasukuwere, however, said the fate of outspoken former Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa was being handled at the party’s “highest level”.
“The Mutasa thing, the province has made a resolution and that will be discussed within the party at the highest level,” he said.
“The rest of the colleagues are members of the party. They are being disciplined within the party structures and it doesn’t follow that they are being expelled.”

He cited the example of Chipinge South MP Enock Porusingazi, who was recently suspended, but remains a Zanu PF MP.

Several ministers, provincial chairpersons and other top party officials linked to Mujuru were purged in the run-up to and after, the ruling party’s congress in December after they were labelled plotters.

Kasukuwere later yesterday took a dig at Mutasa, describing him as a self-proclaimed “godfather” and warning him to “zip up” or risk facing severe punishment from the ruling party.

He also warned party members to desist from organising shadowy meetings without following proper channels.

“We did not come to Zanu PF to help our grandmothers to get rich, but we came to build the party, Zanu PF. For those who want to organise meetings, whether you are in the central committee, you should follow procedures. Let your chairman know about it, if you organise your own meeting, what will people say about it?” he queried.

“Zanu PF is not for one person, Nyati [Didymus Mutasa]. The party is for everywhere and not Makoni. There is no godfather. Yes, we worked with them, but when you go wrong, you face the consequences.”

Kasukuwere added: “You gave him [Mutasa] due respect where it was not necessary. He later came with trumped-up charges against Dorothy Mabika (then Zanu PF Manicaland chairperson) and she suffered because of this. It was no longer a party issue, but it was a game.”