Mutasa to be recalled from Parliament?

Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial executive committee wants Didymus Mutasa recalled from Parliament immediately and replaced by Christopher Chingosho.

In an interview with the Daily News early this week, Samuel Undenge, the provincial chairperson, said Headlands was insisting on the recall of Mutasa as Headlands MP, a move that forces a by-election in which the villagers want Chingosho to stand as Zanu-PF candidate.

The provincial executive committee has since written to the politburo, Zanu-PF's highest decision-making body outside congress, seeking ratification of a decision on Mutasa's recall.

"We have many party members wanting to replace Mutasa and one of them who had been contesting against Mutasa is Christopher Chingosho," Undenge said. "The province prefers him to replace Mutasa in Headlands."

Chingosho has already started campaigning for the constituency. Kudzanai Chipanga, Zanu-PF MP for Makoni West and member of the provincial executive committee, said: "I am one of the MPs who are Mutasa's neighbours, together with Patrick Chinamasa, Makoni Central legislator.  The party supporters are coming to us asking for help as Mutasa has been absent from his constituency for a long time as he spent much time in India. The people are asking, ‘Where is he?' They are asking for help from Chingosho who contested against Mutasa in the primary elections and we expect him to take over from the incumbent."

Mutasa has been summoned to appear before a national disciplinary committee headed by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, which also comprises Chinamasa, secretary for legal affairs; Savior Kasukuwere, political commissar; Kembo Mohadi, secretary for security; Grace Mugabe, chairperson for women's league and Pupurayi Togarepi, the youth league chairman.

Mutasa, a member of Mugabe's first Cabinet when Zimbabwe won independence in 1980, told the 15-nation Southern African Development Community that his removal as the ruling party's administration secretary was unconstitutional.

Mutasa was one of a number of senior party officials, including then Vice President Joice Mujuru and party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, who lost their posts at a party congress in December.

He has dismissed contemptuously the recall recommendation by his Manicaland home province saying the only Zanu-PF that he knew and recognised was the one that existed prior to the "criminal congress" held in Harare late last year.