Bhasikiti safe says Gumbo

The embattled members of Zanu-PF who were linked to ousted former vice president Joyce Mujuru will not be expelled from the party as the purge is already complete, a senior party official has said.

Speaking at a Provincial Co-ordinating Committee PCC meeting held in Masvingo last week, politburo member Joram Gumbo said the party would not continue with the purging of its members aligned to Mujuru.

This means that the likes of former Minister of state for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, former Energy and Power Development minister Dzikamai Mavhaire, former Masvingo Provincial women's league chairperson Shylet Uyoyo and others will not be fired.

Gumbo singled out Bhasikiti as an example saying by firing the former minister from the party, Zanu-PF would further alienate itself from the people. "Our gospel today is that of unity and reconciliation," said Gumbo.

"We know that they have people behind them and we do not want to lose that support. For example Bhasikiti was voted in by the people of Mwenezi and those people will go with him once he is expelled from the party," he added.

Party members present were angry at Gumbo ‘s remarks, but he insisted that expelling the Mujuru cabal from the party could cause the party to lose the elections in 2018.

"There is no one with power to chase them from the party only the politburo has that power," said Gumbo. "The politburo expelled Rugare Gumbo, Jabulani Sibanda, Didymus Mutasa and Themba Mliswa - but the others were just withdrawn from their positions. They are still party members. We plead with anyone from the Mujuru camp to come back and work with us."

Gumbo admitted that Zanu-PF was in a crisis and said it was high time people put their differences aside and worked for the good and future of the party. "Let's build rather than destroy the party. It is easy to destroy but it takes time and effort to rebuild," he said.