'I'm not scared,' says Mutasa

FORMER Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa has said he is ready to appear before a disciplinary committee set to deal with his case, cheekily equating his impending disciplinary hearing to ones he attended to during the colonial era.

Zanu-PF has set up a disciplinary hearing to deal with Mutasa's open rebellion, but the former Presidential Affairs minister said he remained unfazed.

"I will attend the hearing," he said.

"I attended many like it under the (former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian) Smith regime."

Despite the bravado, the committee is made up of people who have openly called for Mutasa's ouster, among them First Lady Grace Mugabe and political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.

Mutasa could not be drawn to comment on the composition of the committee, reiterating that he would attend and he was not afraid.

He said he was not aware of warning made against him by National Youth Service graduates popularly known as Border Gezi, who threatened unspecified action against Mutasa for posing a risk to the revolution and to grab farms he reportedly gave to his lovers.

"I have not seen any threats from Border Gezi youths, whatever they are," Mutasa said.

"I will cross that bridge when I come to it."

Mutasa was non-committal on when he would launch his much-anticipated court challenge seeking the nullification of Zanu-PF's congress last month.

Despite losing his ministerial post and his lofty Zanu-PF position, Mutasa insists he is the bona fide secretary for administration, but President Robert Mugabe has dismissed him as a "stray donkey".

Mutasa is one of a number of Zanu-PF officials who were accused of plotting to kill Mugabe, leading to their ouster from the party and the government.

The former secretary for administration has written to Sadc leaders to intervene in the party's affairs, a request Mugabe rejected outright.

Former Zanu-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo, however, dismissed the disciplinary committee, describing it as illegal.

"As far as we are concerned and as far as he (Mutasa) is concerned, the so-called team is illegal and he does not recognise the congress that took place in December," he said.

"His (Mutasa's) position is very clear that he doesn't recognise the congress because it was done illegally and there is little they can do.

"That will remain his position until things are rectified."

Gumbo questioned the composition of the committee, saying it was made up of people who had openly declared war on Mutasa.

"Chinamasa has made his position known on Mutasa and regards him as an enemy," he said.

"He has his position already.

"There is also Grace Mugabe who is the president's wife and how can Mutasa be tried by the president's wife?

"Kasukuwere has made public statements against Mutasa and it doesn't work."

Gumbo said they will soon launch the court challenge, although he, like Mutasa, did not reveal when this would be done.