Zanu-PF to revisit all pending disciplinary cases - Mujuru, Mutasa in hot soup

ZANU PF will revisit all pending disciplinary cases left unresolved before the party's 6th congress, party secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo has said.

Ousted former Vice-President Joice Mujuru and her top allies, among them, fired secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa were expected to be hauled before the disciplinary committee on allegations of trying to topple President Robert Mugabe.

Speaking to NewsDay on the side-lines of a luncheon for party workers on Wednesday, Chombo said all pending disciplinary cases would not be swept under the carpet.

He said the party's disciplinary committees would revisit the cases at a later stage.

"At the moment, I am dealing with administration issues, relevant bodies will surely deal with disciplinary issues at a later stage," Chombo said.

But the Local Government minister would not say who will handle the disciplinary cases after Mugabe unilaterally dissolved the post of Zanu PF chairperson. According to the Zanu PF constitution, disciplinary cases were handled by the party national chairperson.

In October, former chairman Simon Khaya-Moyo, who also chaired the party's national disciplinary committee, was flooded with members facing suspensions and disciplinary cases, particularly from provincial executives.

The party was embroiled in intense internal fighting pitting factions reportedly led by Mujuru and Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was then Justice minister. The infighting that resulted in the ouster of Mujuru also saw many of her perceived loyalists shown the exit door.

These included expelled spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, Mutasa, political commissar Webster Shamu, production secretary Dzikamai Mavhaire, eight provincial chairpersons and many more executive members.

Most of the disciplinary cases surfaced with the entry of First Lady Grace Mugabe in the political ring, with many members being accused of trying to sabotage her rise. Most of the members who were facing disciplinary hearings were presented with votes of no confidence that were upheld by the party's politburo, effectively sealing their fate.

Some of the suspensions have been dealt with by the disciplinary committee together with the politburo while others were still pending.

Party members whose cases were still pending before the party's disciplinary committee include Godfrey Gomwe, Harare Provincial youth chairperson who was suspended by Harare province over various allegations that include indiscipline.

Kwekwe MP Masango Matambanadzo and Gokwe-Kana MP Owen Ncube also still have pending disciplinary issues after they were involved
in a public brawl linked to faction fights that characterised the run-up to the party's congress.

Newly-appointed secretary for commissariat Saviour Kasukuwere recently ordered the party to halt more suspensions after the massive purges ahead of congress.