Kasukuwere denies sponsoring Musengezi court challenge of ED coup

By Staff Reporter | Nehanda Politics |

Former cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has denied that he is sponsoring Zanu PF member Sybeth Musengezi to challenge President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to power during the 2017 military coup.

This comes after Kasukuwere was last week accused of funding Musengezi to challenge as illegal, a Zanu PF central committee meeting that was held on the 19th of November 2017 which allegedly forced the late former President Robert Mugabe to resign and installed Mnangagwa.

In accusing him of sponsoring Musengezi, Zanu PF Harare provincial chairperson Goodwills Masimirembwa in his affidavit said: “It is believed, on investigation by the district co-ordinating committee security, that reports to me as chairman of DCC 4 Harare, and also acting chairman of the Harare province, that applicant was ‘planted’ into the relevant district, without the relevant credentials for political and other reasons by the former secretary for the commissariat Saviour Kasukuwere, with whom he is allegedly related.”

But Kasukuwere warned Zanu PF to stop using him as a scapegoat for its chaos and deal with the “political question of the day”.

“The accusations against me are hallucinations from ignorant characters that have no interest of the party at heart,” he said.

“Arguing about an obvious absurdity is indicative of serious lack of emotional intelligence on the part of those who should lead the movement.

“Scapegoats are not the solution, but rather the solution is tackling the core political question of the day. Political maturity and wisdom is urgently required to steer the party back on course.”

In his application, Musengezi through his lawyer Nqobani Sithole argues that Mnangagwa’s rise to power after the “kangaroo” special committee meeting violated the Zanu PF constitution, because the meeting was illegally presided over by Obert Mpofu who was then only the party’s secretary for finance.

He cited Zanu PF as the first respondent and Mnangagwa as the second respondent. He went on to cite Mpofu, acting political commissar Patrick Chinamasa, former vice president Phelekezela Mphoko, ex-finance secretary Ignatius Chombo as the third, fourth, fifth and sixth respondents respectively.

Musengezi is also seeking employment of former vice president Mphoko to convene a special Extraordinary Congress of Zanu PF that will decide the lawful position of Mnangagwa and other top party members.

Although the applicant is suing him as leader of the ruling party, Mnangagwa has since filed his opposing affidavit where he is claiming a Presidential Immunity.

“The President’s capacity in the party must not be confused with his official capacity as the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” read part of an opposing affidavit filed by Mnangagwa’s lawyers.

“I am advised that Section 98 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe 2013 provides for presidential immunity. It reads as follows: While in office, the President is not liable to civil or criminal proceedings in any court for things done or omitted to be done in his or her personal capacity; civil or criminal proceedings maybe installed against a former president for things done or omitted to be done or before he or she became president or while he or she was president.”

Mnangagwa assumed leadership of Zimbabwe through a military coup that ousted Mugabe who ruled the country for 37 years. Mugabe died in 2019 in Singapore from prostate cancer. Nehanda Radio