Mutasa vows to contest by-election as Zanu PF

By Brown Moyo

HARARE – Former Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa has said he will contest in the by-elections in order to defend his Headlands parliamentary seat.

This comes after Mutasa was expelled from Zanu PF for publicly denouncing the party’s December congress — but said he still regarded himself a bona fide party member and would contest any by-election in his constituency under the party’s banner.

In an interview with Nehanda Radio Mutasa said there is nothing to fear because he has always contested elections and he is certain he will reclaim the seat.

“The weevils are in trouble because I will contest as a member of my party, the original Zanu PF which they call gamatox,” Mutasa said.

Mutasa vowed that he will defend his parliamentary seat, a move that his fellow ousted and expelled former Mashonaland West provincial chairperson and Hurungwe West legislator, Temba Mliswa is also taking.

“Yes, I shall contest. I do not want to let my members down,” the former Presidential Affairs minister said. “I will contest as the original Zanu PF candidate,” Mutasa is quoted saying by NewsDay.

The paper also reported that President Robert Mugabe’s former close aide was initially relieved of his party and government posts after he described the Zanu PF elective congress held last December as unconstitutional and threatened to file a legal challenge at the High Court seeking nullification of its resolutions.

Following his expulsion, Mutasa dug in saying no one in the current ruling party hierarchy could sack him as he belonged to the original Zanu PF.

“They are not able to expel me from the original, law-abiding and constitutional Zanu PF, which puts people and the country first,” Mutasa said last week.

“That is where I belong and shall happily stay.”

Meanwhile Zanu PF insiders told NewsDay that the party’s national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo’s reprieve could be short-lived as moves were underway to relieve him of his duties, a week after Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti was fired for working with the Mujuru camp.

“The First Lady wants everyone who was working with Mujuru relieved of his or her duties both in the party and government. Obviously, her wishes will prevail. Khaya Moyo is perceived as one of them and allegations that he was spotted in the company of Kaukonde, the First Lady’s worst enemy, have made his situation most precarious,” the insider said.

Khaya Moyo was said to have been working with Mujuru and was tipped to take over as Vice-President in the event that Mujuru succeeded Mugabe. Efforts to contact him were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered.

“Khaya Moyo will be the next to be fired,” a close Zanu PF source said.

“He is said to be linked to the Gamatox people and has failed to denounce them in his statements as spokesperson. His plight has been made worse because he is alleged to have been spotted in the company of ousted former Mashonaland East provincial chairperson Ray Kaukonde. He is also accused of failing to denounce the MDC-T in his statements.”