Zanu-PF lampoons Didymus Mutasa

ZANU-PF yesterday dismissed as "the highest form of absurdity" declarations by expelled member Didymus Mutasa that he will contest under the "original Zanu-PF" card in his former Headlands constituency by-election.

Mutasa, the party's former secretary for administration, was last week expelled from Zanu-PF along with former Mashonaland West chairperson and Hurungwe West legislator Temba Mliswa.

Yesterday, Mutasa, who was last December sacked from the Minister of Presidential Affairs position, was quoted in the private media saying he would contest in the by-election for his former constituency on a Zanu-PF ticket.

"The statement by Didymus Mutasa in today's (yesterday) NewsDay in which he states that he will stand as a Zanu-PF candidate, come a by-election in Headlands, Manicaland, is the highest form of absurdity," said Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Simon Khaya Moyo.

"Mutasa has been a member of Zanu-PF for a very long time until his expulsion a few days ago. He knows the rules and regulations of the party and the reasons for his expulsions."

Khaya Moyo added, "Other independent papers who continue to peddle falsehoods hoping to promote a lost cause are free to continue whistling in a graveyard.

"Our focus is to accelerate the implementation of Zim-Asset and not cultivate demonic dreams."

Bulawayo lawyer Matshobana Ncube yesterday said it was impossible for Mutasa to contest under a Zanu-PF ticket following his expulsion from the party.

"It's not possible because if a party expels you, you can't contest under its ticket. There is a nomination process and the party has to nominate you. Papers are also filed where the party endorses your candidacy," said Ncube.

"He may try but he won't succeed. He has a right to ride on his luck but I don't think even the electoral commission can accept such a thing."

Mutasa was part of a putschist cabal led by former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, accused of plotting to illegally unseat and or assassinate President Robert Mugabe.

Mutasa dismally lost Central Committee elections in his Makoni District and subsequently failed to make it into the Politburo.

He has also threatened to take his case to the courts but was still to file papers after being snubbed by several lawyers who said his court bid was long on political allegations and short on law.

Mutasa's home province of Manicaland and people in his Headlands constituency had recommended his expulsion from the party.