Zanu-PF has ordered all its 10 provinces not to suspend officials and advised that only structures that existed at the time of the party’s 6th National Peoples’ Congress will be recognised.
The announcement came as the Zanu-PF Manicaland Provincial Coordinating Committee on Saturday adopted a motion imposing a five-year suspension on all party officials who had votes of no confidence passed on them.
Bulawayo province was also reported to have tinkered with its provincial structures.
This development would have meant that all party bigwigs accused of being linked to the sacked Vice President Joice Mujuru were going to be kicked out.
Speaking to The Herald last night, Zanu-PF national secretary for the commissariat Saviour Kasukuwere declared the suspension of officials in Manicaland province on Saturday as “null and void”.
Said Kasukuwere: “The commissariat department would like to advise all provinces and the entire membership that any changes to the existing structures of the party after congress will not be accepted without the following procedures and guidelines to be released by the department with the authority of the Politburo and Central Committee under the guidance of the President and First Secretary.
“I am, therefore, informing all the provinces that no changes will be entertained without approval and sanction by the department. This is meant to avoid confusion and disturbances in the provinces and structures of the party. The recognised structures are those that attended the congress and any other changes thereafter are null and void. All provinces should, therefore, be guided accordingly,” Kasukuwere said.
There were fears that if the Manicaland scenario was allowed to continue, it was likely to cause a spate of suspensions across the country, creating problems for the party.
As such, Kasukuwere said any changes to the provinces would be done with ultimate approval by the party’s First Secretary and President Mugabe.
The Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial co-ordinating committee, led by acting provincial chairperson Samuel Undenge, unanimously resolved on Saturday to slap five-year suspensions on those who had a vote of a no confidence passed on them.
Party provincial Youth League vice-chairman Mubuso Chinguno moved the motion saying there was need to set a stern example against rogue elements in the party by suspending for five years all such members.
The provincial secretary for legal affairs, Misheck Mugadza, said according to the new party constitution, suspension was possible following allegations that implicated some members in a plot to assassinate President Mugabe.
Undenge said the constitutional route should be followed on the matter.
“Yes, the people have agreed by consensus for the suspension of all members who were given a vote of no confidence, but we should do things according to the constitution,” said Undenge after the motion was adopted by consensus.
Zanu-PF Central Committee member and secretary for legal affairs in the Politburo Patrick Chinamasa said at the same PCC meeting that among the suspended members who were legislators would remain in their positions, but their party positions and powers would be stripped off.
Some of the senior provincial members who had votes of no confidence passed on them are Mutasa, provincial chairperson John Shumba Mvundura, his deputy, Retired Brigadier Elliot Kasu, political commissar Retired Major James Kaunye, Nyasha Chikwinya, Joyline Porusingazi and Loveness Mutezo, among others.
Central Committee member and Chipinge South legislator Enock Porusingazi had already been suspended for five years.
Politburo member Oppah Muchinguri said the clean-up exercise in the party was necessary to rid it of rogue elements.
“If you sell out in Zanu-PF you will never succeed and that is what we wanted to expose. Those that was greedy like (Munacho) Mutezo look where it has landed them.
“I saw that rogue elements were creeping into the party, which is why I blew my whistle with the assistance of Amai Dr Grace Mugabe.
“We want disciplined members in Zanu-PF and the shake-up was really necessary to show people that the party can devour its own children for the necessary good,” said Muchinguri.
Other members in other provinces that fell by the wayside because of their association with Mujuru are Nicholas Goche, Webster Shamu, Dzikamai Mavhaire, Ray Kaukonde, Francis Nhema, Olivia Muchena and Simbarashe Mudarikwa, among others.
