Politburo to decide on Mutasa expulsion

By Staff Reporter

HARARE – The Zanu PF politburo is meeting today and will among other things decide the fate of its former Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa who was also Minister for Presidential Affairs until his dismissal from government.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, the new Zanu PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere hinted that Mutasa could be expelled following recommendations made by the Zanu PF Manicaland provincial coordinating committee.

“Manicaland made recommendations and we have made it clear that we will not reverse their decision,” Kasukuwere said.

Mutasa has angered supporters loyal to President Mugabe after he described the December party congress as a non-event and unconstitutional. He has also called for all disgruntled Zanu PF members to mobilise and confront the new leaders.

So far former Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo and deposed war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda have been kicked out of the party for allegedly supporting Joice Mujuru who was also sacked as Vice President.

Mujuru however still remains an ordinary card carrying member of the party.

Tensions are at an all time with President Mugabe, upon his arrival at the Harare International Airport last Thursday from his five-week-long holiday in the Far East, insulting Mutasa, describing him as “deranged, if not near insane, a man with a small mind and a stray braying ass that cannot be corrected”.

Addressing hired party youths who were holding placards denouncing Mutasa, Mugabe said the former security minister has lost his mind.

“It is surprising that a man who was part of us all along, who was the Minister of State Security, is now behaving this way. He no longer adheres to party principles and after losing Central Committee elections, he can’t accept that.

“Now he is reporting party business to outsiders and seeking intervention. A stupid fool can not be corrected but Zanu PF issues can not be taken overseas, we don’t entertain outside interference.,” said Mugabe.

In a stinging statement issued this month, Mutasa argued that according to the party’s constitution, a true Zanu PF congress must be elective, providing a free and fair platform for all the party members to elect leaders of their choice without intimidation, victimisation, fear or trepidation and this was not the case.

A defiant Mutasa has demanded that Zanu PF revert to the pre-6th December leadership, which resulted in the elevation of, among others, new vice presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko.

“The sad events of the past months reflect a deep-seated historical failure by the party leadership to correctly handle internal contradictions in the party. Each time the party faces challenges, it resorts to brute force,” Mutasa wrote.

“It fails to sum up its mistakes and experiences and provide durable solutions. Contradictions within the party and society as a whole are natural and expected, but these are non antagonistic and should be resolved through debate, dialogue and negotiations,” Mutasa added.

Mutasa said he had signed the statement on behalf of “the entire membership of the party who believe in constitutional law and authority, and the principle of one-man one-vote”, as well as “all elected office bearers who have been unconstitutionally and unceremoniously removed from office without charge”.

Mutasa’s statement “categorically” refuted and dismissed all the allegations “peddled by certain counter-revolutionaries” that Mujuru plotted against the president, arguing that it was a “preposterous and clear political smear campaign intended to tarnish and obliterate Amai Mujuru’s history of commitment and dedication to the liberation of this country”.

The former cabinet minister said the meetings in the run-up to the congress late last year were characterised by fear and intimidation, as well as trepidation.

“It will go down in the annals of our Zanu PF history that for the first time, the elected leader alienated himself from the people by this behaviour. Instead of mapping the road for Zimbabwe’s economic recovery and major policies uplifting our people, the congress became a farce and degenerated into a praise and worship playhouse,” said Mutasa.