Chiyangwa cannot be readmitted into Zanu-PF’

FLAMBOYANT businessman and philanthropist, cum-politician Philip Chiyangwa cannot be readmitted into Zanu-PF after the expiry of his five-year expulsion period as it emerged he never applied for readmission.

According to the Central Committee report presented to the Zanu-PF's 12th Annual National People's Conference by President Mugabe here on Thursday, it was noted that the party's national disciplinary committee never received Chiyangwa's application for readmission.

"The national disciplinary committee, in its perusal of P Chiyangwa's record, did not find any letter of application for readmission from him directed to the secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa, or the chairman of the national disciplinary committee (Simon Khaya Moyo) bearing a date after the expiry of the expulsion on 20 March 2011."

"The national disciplinary report concluded the matter by advising the 250th Ordinary Session of the Politburo that it cannot do anything until it receives Chiyangwa's application letter, if he so applies."

Chiyangwa was expelled from Zanu-PF on March 20 2006.

According to the party's rules and regulations, a member expelled by the National Disciplinary Committee or congress cannot be readmitted to the party until after five years.

The Zanu-PF National Disciplinary Committee this year handled three disciplinary cases from Mashonaland West province and one from Mashonaland East province.

The other cases from Mashonaland West province involve Jimayi Muduuri and John Mafa.
According to the report, the National Disciplinary Committee recommended the verdict by Mashonaland East province to expel Tracy Mutinhiri for bringing the name of the party into disrepute.

The report noted that the committee was convinced that Mutinhiri had a case to answer after going through all the evidence supplied and concurred with the province that the appellant was guilty as charged.

"Accordingly, the national disciplinary committee recommended the confirmation of the province's guilty verdict to the Politburo and the Central Committee and the amendment of the punishment against her in terms of Article 10 Section 64 to expulsion from Zanu-PF party with immediate effect in terms of Article 10 Section 75 (5) and that in consequence, she be relieved of her parliamentary seat that she obtained on a Zanu-PF ticket," reads the report in part.

The report noted that Mutinhiri was given the right to respond to the allegations levelled against her by the province.

Mutinhiri argued that she had conducted herself with dignity and never brought the name of the party into disrepute as charged.

She alleged she had been subjected to arbitrary treatment by those in authority in the province and that she had never failed to discharge her duties and responsibilities.

President Mugabe, who is also First Secretary of Zanu-PF, appointed the disciplinary committee.

The committee consists of four Politburo members, Cdes Sydney Sekeramayi, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu and Oppah Muchinguri and is chaired by national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo.

The committee also handled a case of vote of no confidence passed on John Mafa that led to his removal from office as provincial chairman.

However, the committee noted that the Mashonaland West Provincial Coordinating Committee held on January 15 2010 and the National Disciplinary Committee established that the provisions listed as the basis of the vote of no confidence were inappropriate and misdirected as it was not on one of the provincial coordinating committee's functions.

"Having scrutinised the records  submitted and the party constitution, the  National Disciplinary Committee recommended to the 250th  Ordinary Session of the Politburo that in the spirit of cultivating unity in the  party and because of the period that had passed, an election for provincial chairman be conducted where J Mafa is allowed to contest, if he so wishes."

The Politburo recommended the decision at its 2 November meeting.

In another Mashonaland West case, Muduuri appealed to the National Disciplinary Committee alleging harassment and abuse of authority against him by the acting provincial chairman Reuben Marumahoko.

Muduuri argued that the actions by the acting provincial chairman were putting his name into disrepute and was a way of trying to eject him from the party.

The committee is still seized with the matter.