By Lloyd Mbiba
HARARE – President Robert Mugabe yesterday cracked the whip on his faction-torn party in a bid to quell infighting, warning he would not make any compromises with indiscipline or anti-party activities.
Speaking after the party’s politburo meeting, Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo said Mugabe warned that the party would be rough and tough on indiscipline.
Without naming anyone, Mugabe reportedly asked politburo members to uphold party discipline.
Mugabe said the party was bigger than individuals, further warning his leaders of Mugabe furious “stern action” in case of complaints of corruption, nepotism and infighting.
Gumbo also announced that the politburo had agreed to go by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s (Zec) finding that ex-Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono’s senatorial position was not legally valid for now.
But the party directed its legal committee to ensure that Gono was appointed senator.
“We did discuss the issue of comrade Gono and the position of the party was made clear that for the time being we go along with what the chair of Zimbabwe Electoral Committee Justice Rita Makarau said, but we will also look into other avenues of finding a way of ensuring that perhaps he can be nominated for that position,” Gumbo said.
Quizzed on what the avenues the politburo was looking at, he retorted: “The legal committee has been directed to look into other ways of finding a way forward.”
Zec last week disqualified Gono from filling the Buhera West senatorial seat, on the grounds that he is not a registered voter in Manicaland, a transfer he sought and was awarded in December last year.
Gumbo told journalists that Mugabe was not happy with errant leaders in the party.
“The President comrade RG Mugabe in his opening remarks expressed deep concern at the amount of indiscipline exercised by some party leaders in the provinces,” Gumbo said.
“He talked about premature campaign by some leaders seeking positions in the congress.
“He said this must stop. Use of money and vote buying and such campaigns destroy the unity of the party and he said this must stop again.
“President Mugabe said this will create confusion among party members. He said the party must remain united all the time. Self-individual interests must never be allowed in the party,” Gumbo said.
The Zanu PF spokesperson said Mugabe warned that party leaders who fail to take cognisance of his caution will face the music.
“Stern action or measures will be taken against those leaders who do not heed the president’s directive,” Gumbo said.
Zanu PF has been riddled with infighting, with leaders openly attacking each other.
Mashonaland West provincial chair Temba Mliswa on Monday accused Information minister Jonathan Moyo and Water minister Saviour Kasukuwere of being gays in a party led by a deeply homophobic leader.
Mliswa also attacked Mugabe’s nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, branding him an embarrassment to the first family.
Zhuwao’s wife, Beauty, could not stomach the stinging attack and she slapped Mliswa during a provincial meeting.
Asked whether Mugabe spoke about the Mashonaland West turmoil, Gumbo said: “The president made reference to it saying it was not necessary for such things to happen”.
Turning to the December elective congress, which was the second item on the agenda of the marathon meeting, Gumbo said the congress will take place from December 9 to 14.
“We then looked at the forth coming congress; the venue will be here in Harare at the place where we launched the anti-sanctions campaign,” Gumbo said. Daily News
