Mujuru aligned MPs' futures hang in balance

THE future of Zanu-PF Members of the National Assembly aligned to deposed former Vice President Joice Mujuru hangs in the balance as provinces across the country want them recalled from Parliament.

Mashonaland Central Zanu-PF leadership met last week under the banner of the provincial co-ordinating committee where they recommended that nine legislators from the province be recalled from Parliament for allegedly working with Dr Mujuru.

Other provinces are expected to hold their co-ordinating committees from next month but rallied their weight behind Mashonaland Central's position on "unrepentant" MPs.

Mashonaland Central chairperson Dickson Mafios said the nine were facing serious allegations as they were implicated in fanning factionalism and working in cahoots with those who were seeking to unseat President Mugabe.

The nine are Nicholas Goche (Shamva North), Walter Kanhanga (Guruve North), David Butau (Mbire), Chriswell Mutematsaka (Guruve South), Edgar Chidavaenzi (Mazowe North), Kenneth Musanhu (Bindura North), Christopher Chitindi (Muzarabani South), Elizabeth Shongedza and Alice Chimbudzi (Mashonaland Central Senator).

"There are certain MPs who were also implicated in (US Embassy official) Mr Eric Little's saga, known as the 'Dirty Dozen' and some of them come from Mashonaland Central and others are linked to former Vice President Mujuru," said Mafios.

"We held our first provincial co-ordination committee meeting in Mbire on Tuesday and it was resolved that because of the seriousness of the (Dr) Mujuru matter, we cannot continue to work with some of the MPs who were in her camp. We resolved that such MPs be relieved of their duties.

"Right now we don't know what they are planning as they were loyal to Mujuru. There are also rumours that they want to impeach President Mugabe if they unite with the MDC-T. So, right now we are not sure if their allegiance is towards the President and how loyal they are to Government."

This comes after Zanu-PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere ordered a halt of suspensions and advised that only structures that existed at the time of the party's 6th National People's Congress would be recognised.

Other provinces, among them Manicaland, Masvingo and Bulawayo, had already recommended that those people linked to Dr Mujuru be kicked out.

Midlands provincial chairperson Kizito Chivamba said at their last provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Gweru, there was a loud cry for Dr Mujuru's allies to be booted out.

"But the leadership said we should wait for guidance on the matter. But we are certain that those MPs will not repent and that is the reason they even boycotted the PCC.

"We are investigating them and when we meet again we will consider the issue. But let me say Mashonaland Central's position is national. It's shared by all provinces," he said.

His Matabeleland North counterpart, Richard Moyo, said investigations were underway to establish if some party officials still pursued factional politics.

"Obviously we can have one or two people who are doing that, so we are investigating and once we get evidence we will definitely kick them out. We can't work with such people," said Moyo.

Mashonaland West chairperson Ziyambi Ziyambi said they would deliberate on the MPs when they sit for their first PCC meeting next month.

"We are going to sit down as an executive and make recommendations to see what form of punishment should be taken against such MPs. We also support what Mashonaland Central has done," he said.

Harare and Matabeleland South provincial chairpersons Cdes Godwills Masimirembwa and Rabhelani Choeni respectively said they were yet to meet as PCCs.

"As you know, Mashonaland Central met as a PCC but we are yet to meet. We will be meeting in the New Year. But as a province we will be guided by the Politburo and the Central Committee," said Masimirembwa.

Choeni said: "We haven't met as the PCC. We can only be able to answer that question after our first meeting sometime in January."