Purges won't weaken Zanu-PF, claims Mnangagwa

Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the expulsion and suspension of Zanu-PF members who work to undermine the revolutionary party will not weaken it.

He said the party would not hesitate to expel or suspend those who try to cover their misdeeds by sloganeering.

Acting President Mnangagwa was addressing thousands of party supporters at Kajekache Secondary School in Hurungwe West constituency on Sunday to drum up support for party candidate, Kieth Guzah, ahead of June 10 by-elections.

"We all say forward with Zanu-PF, forward with Zanu-PF like Christians when they pray (they say) Jesus Christ, Jesus, in the name of Jesus," he said.

"Not all who say in the name of Jesus belong to Jesus and not all who say forward with Zanu-PF are Zanu-PF. They eventually come out in the open. When they come out in the open, Zanu-PF will expel such elements and will not split.

"It will expel and expel every such individual. It will remain intact. Do you want to be found on the side of those who face the axe and are expelled from the party or you want to work with others to foster development?"

The warning comes at a time when the revolutionary party has expelled several senior officials and suspended many others as it cracks down on elements accused of plotting to illegally remove President Mugabe.

He said unlike the MDC formations which continued to disintegrate, Zanu-PF was "like an elephant that is not perturbed by barking dogs" and will continue with its programmes to uplift the lives of people.