Mutsvangwa scoffs at suspension

Underfire Zanu-PF Norton legislator and War Veterans minister Chris Mutsvangwa, yesterday scoffed at his suspension for alleged indiscipline and accused fellow party members in Mashonaland West Province of defying President Robert Mugabe's weekend directive against wanton suspension of party members without following due processes.

His comments came after Mashonaland West deputy provincial chairperson Keith Guzah told journalists in the capital that Mutsvangwa had been suspended for gross indiscipline and disrespecting Mugabe and the party constitution.

The Zanu-PF Mashonaland West Provincial Coordinating Committee has passed a vote of no confidence in Chris Mutsvangwa and recommended that he be expelled from the party and be recalled from parliament.

The announcement was made by vice chairman of the province Keith Guzah in Harare.
 
The charges being levelled against the Norton legislator and War Veterans Minister are undermining the authority of the President and First Secretary of the party by questioning the appointment of the current National Political Commissar and insulting the First Family.

The vote of no confidence by the province comes a few days after President Robert Mugabe told delegates at the 15th annual National People's Conference that votes of no confidence and recommendations for expulsion should only be held after thorough internal consultations.

Guzah could not justify how the act is not against what the President said in Victoria Falls.

Contacted for comment, Mutsvangwa said: "I am aware of what the President said about votes of no confidence, I cannot qualify or subtract what he said. I respect my President and I am a loyal cadre of the party."

At the just ended conference, the President also called for unity in the party and an end to factionalism and divisions in the party.