Mnangagwa lays into Mutasa

Sacked Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Mr Didymus Mutasa never joined other comrades in the trenches in Mozambique, but spent the entire period in the comfort of his wife's home in Maputo, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa said yesterday.

VP Mnangagwa revealed this while addressing star rallies in Headlands and Mutare to drum up support for revolutionary party candidates ahead of next Wednesday's parliamentary by-elections.

Zanu-PF will be represented by Mutare businessman Esau Fungai Mupfumi in the Dangamvura-Chikanga Constituency, while Christopher Chingosho is the party's candidate in Headlands.

Said VP Mnangagwa: "Let me tell you this, Mutasa is a close friend of mine from way back during the days of the liberation struggle. He joined us in detention after he was arrested at Cold Comfort. He later went to England, but came to Mozambique at the invitation of the late Edgar Tekere. He never joined other cadres in camps or in the battle front as he always stayed with his wife in Maputo."

He said the Headlands constituency was important to Zanu-PF as it had always been Zanu-PF territory.

"In 2008 when (MDC-T leader Mr Morgan) Tsvangirai almost ruled this country, I was the chief election agent for the President and Mutasa was the secretary for Administration.

"Surprisingly, when the results were announced, Mutasa had already packed all his belongings from the office. When I phoned him he told me that he was already in Rusape," said Mnangagwa.

"We wondered how the secretary for Administration would run away at such a critical moment. I phoned (Nicholas) Goche. He also said he was already in Bindura. How could a man in charge of our security at the time desert us at that critical moment? This is the kind of people we were dealing with. They thought MDC was going to rule this country," he added.

He said Zanu-PF would never allow that to happen.

VP Mnangagwa said all recent expulsions and suspensions from Zanu-PF were above board and in line with the party's constitution.

"Zanu-PF will not hesitate to crack the whip whenever cases of indiscipline are detected within the party. The party will name and shame cadres who think they are more important than the party. In fact, no one, including myself, is bigger than the party," Mnangagwa said.

"All the expulsions and suspensions carried out by the party were above board and in line with the party constitution.

"It is also important for all to note that even after the expulsion or suspension of the so-called big wigs, the party will remain intact unlike the opposition MDC," he said.

Zanu-PF recently expelled seven more members, while 13 others were suspended for five years as the revolutionary party continues to rid itself of people linked to the sacked Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru-led cabal that sought to topple President Mugabe ahead of the 6th National People's Congress last year.

The expelled members join Dr Mujuru, Mr Mutasa and former secretary for information and publicity, Mr Rugare Gumbo and former Mashonaland West provincial chairman, Temba Mliswa who were also expelled for their roles in the botched attempt to topple President Mugabe.

VP Mnangagwa urged party supporters in Dangamvura-Chiakanga to come out in their numbers and ensure a sound victory for Mupfumi.