Zanu PF triggers more by-elections

Expelled Zanu PF stalwarts Ray Kaukonde, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and David Butau were yesterday formally ejected from Parliament — setting the stage for more costly by-elections at a time that the government is saddled with massive debts and failing to meet its obligations.

Jacob Mudenda, the Speaker of Parliament, announced that he had received a formal letter from the post-congress Zanu PF announcing that the trio had been expelled and were thus being recalled from their respective seats.

Bhasikiti, the former MP for Mwenezi East confirmed to the Daily News last night that he was no longer a legislator.

“That was announced in my presence. They also admitted that they were quite aware of the court challenge but they disregarded it,” Bhasikiti, who has since taken President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF to court, said.

Kaukonde, the former MP for Marondera and Butau, the ex-legislator for Mbire, along with Bhasikiti, were controversially expelled from Zanu PF last month.

The three were expelled along with former ministers Dzikamai Mavhaire and Olivia Muchena, who are both senators, as well as prominent party members Claudius Makova and Kudakwashe Gopo — who are all suspected of being allies of ousted former Vice President Joice Mujuru, who herself was purged from the party on untested allegations of plotting to oust and kill Mugabe. Daily News