Zanu-PF in U-turn over MPs

ZANU-PF has made a U-turn on earlier threats to expel and recall from Parliament more than 100 MPs reportedly linked to ousted former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

The recall may have forced President Robert Mugabe to dissolve Parliament and call for fresh elections.

Mujuru, who was stripped of both her government and party positions following allegations she harboured plans to unconstitutionally topple Mugabe, is believed to have the support of more than 100 Zanu-PF MPs.

In an interview yesterday, after addressing the Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial co-ordinating committee in Mutare, Zanu-PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere denied that there had been a push to recall and expel the alleged "rebel MPs".

This was despite the fact that Manicaland acting provincial chairman Samuel Undenge had briefed him about the province's plans to axe the MPs.

"Our position has been very clear that all those who have not been expelled from the party remain members and will not be recalled from Parliament unless one has been expelled and the party decides to go for a by-election," Kasukuwere said.

He said no resolution had been made to fire the legislators from the National Assembly, despite calls by provincial party structures to recall the MPs for allegedly identifying with the Mujuru camp.

Kasukuwere, however, said the fate of outspoken former Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa was being handled at the party's highest level.

"On the Mutasa issue, the province has made a resolution and that will be discussed within the party at the highest level," he said.

"The rest of the colleagues are members of the party.

"They are being disciplined within the party structures and it doesn't follow that they are being expelled."

He cited the example of Chipinge South MP Enock Porusingazi, who was recently suspended, but remains a Zanu-PF MP.

Several ministers, provincial chairpersons and top party officials linked to Mujuru were purged in the run-up to, and after the ruling party's congress in December 2014 after they were labeled traitors.

Kasukuwere later took a dig at Mutasa describing him as a self-proclaimed "godfather" and warning him to zip up or risk facing severe punishment from the ruling party. He warned party members to desist from organising shadowy meetings without following proper channels.

"We did not come to Zanu-PF to help our grandmothers to get rich, but we came to build the party," Kasukuwere said.

"For those who want to organise meetings, whether you are in the central committee or not, you should follow procedures.

"Let your chairman know about it, if you organise your own meeting what will people say about it?

"Zanu-PF is not for one person, Nyati (Mutasa), the party is for every district and not Makoni. There is no godfather.

"Yes, we worked with them, but when you go wrong you face the consequences."

Kasukuwere added: "You gave him (Mutasa) respect where it was not necessary.

"He later came with trumped-up charges against Dorothy Mabika and she suffered because of this.

"It was no longer a party issue, but it was a game."