'Mutasa fate sealed,' says Chombo

THE ruling Zanu-PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo yesterday disclosed that the fate of his under-fire predecessor, Didymus Mutasa, was already sealed.

Chombo said the leadership was of the view that Mutasa could not remain a party member judging by the manner he has persistently denounced the leadership in the media.

Addressing party members at St James Zongoro School in Mutasa district, Manicaland Province at a bash to celebrate the appointment of Higher Education minister Oppah Muchinguri into the politburo and Cabinet, Chombo said current plans to summon Mutasa before a disciplinary tribunal was just a formality to provide him with "a soft landing".

"There are three issues brought to Harare by the leadership of this (Manicaland) province," Chombo said.

"What is Mutasa saying especially these days, selling out the party? He cannot continue to be a member of the party with the position he is taking in the papers (media).The resolution of the province Cde (Samuel) Undenge (the acting chairman) we have it, and it will be dealt with in the manner disciplinary issues are dealt with in the party."

Chombo said Zanu-PF was also toiling around with plans to recall Mutasa from his Headlands constituency following a request by the constituents.
Mutasa is Zanu-PF Headlands member of the House of Assembly.

Chombo also said Zanu-PF would soon appoint ex-Home Affairs Deputy minister and former Central Intelligence Organisation Deputy-Director-General Shadreck Chipanga to replace the late Buhera Senator Kumbirai Kangai.

Mutasa, crossed swords with his erstwhile comrades recently after he denounced the outcome of the party's December elective congress. He frantically attempted to rope in Sadc and the African Union in a bid to have the party congress resolutions nullified.

The disgraced ex-Zanu-PF supremo last month refused to be silenced and even threatened to take the matter to court. His confidantes last week said the court papers would be filed anytime soon.

Irked by Mutasa's defiance, the Zanu-PF politburo chaired by President Robert Mugabe last week decided to haul him before a six-member tribunal comprising of Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko (chairman), Women's League secretary Grace Mugabe, Patrick Chinamasa (secretary for legal affairs), national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, secretary for security Kembo Mohadi and Youth League secretary Pupurai Togarepi to deal with him.

However, Mutasa scoffed at the tribunal, describing the plans as "absurd".

He pointed out that it was clear from the composition of the tribunal that he would not get a fair hearing.

Mutasa's concerns were also confirmed by former Harare mayor and lawyer Muchadeyi Masunda, who at the weekend accused Chinamasa of failing to properly advise fellow politburo members about the glaring flaws in the composition of the disciplinary panel.

Masunda said as a lawyer, Chinamasa should have picked up the flaws and advised accordingly, adding that the committee tasked to deal with Mutasa's case was fatally flawed and heavily compromised.

Masunda said: "The composition of the disciplinary tribunal which has been put together to deal with the case of Didymus Noel Edwin Mutasa is fatally flawed in that it includes individuals who have rendered themselves ineligible to serve on a body of this nature for the simple reason that they have had occasion to excoriate (Mutasa) in both the print and electronic media during the last couple of weeks-viz (Chinamasa) himself, Kasukuwere and, of course, the irrepressible (First Lady Grace).

"If they choose to go full steam ahead, as Simon Khaya-Moyo (Zanu spokesperson) was at pains to say at a recent press conference, then whatever decision is made by that disciplinary tribunal will definitely be at risk of being set aside by the High Court of Zimbabwe on review at the obvious instance of (Mutasa)."

Several speakers at Muchinguri's party yesterday applauded her for leading the crusade that felled Mutasa, fired Vice-President Joice Mujuru and several other top officials from both the party and government.

Speaking at the same event which was attended by several Cabinet ministers, politburo and central committee members, legislators and thousands of Mutasa villagers, Chinamasa advised MPs who lost their Zanu-PF posts in the run-up to the congress to continue attending party meetings.