Chombo warns against Zanu-PF no-confidence motions

Zanu-PF should reject votes of no confidence motions that are not preceded by thorough investigations and irrefutable evidence of the alleged offence by the accused, the revolutionary party's secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo, has said.

He said where crimes were alleged, due legal processes should be followed including police reports and waiting for court verdicts.

Addressing a Mashonaland West provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting at the weekend, Chombo said no-confidence motions should be initiated on the basis of "frivolous and unsubstantiated" claims.

"Our disciplinary processes should be done to perfection so that there's no acrimony otherwise you'll start hearing people saying the party has split. Some will say a person is being treated unfairly while others say it's the right thing. Lay the charges accurately and clearly," said Chombo.

The ruling party has seen nearly all provinces trying to pass votes of no confidence against fellow members. "It's expected that when you call someone for a disciplinary hearing, they're presented with the charge sheet so that they can consult if they want to."

He said if done properly, no one should have an excuse to leave the party because more people were needed inside than outside.

Chombo said there were people looking for excuses to leave the party on the pretext that they were being unfairly treated.

"When your misdeeds are laid out well, people are quick to accept the punishment meted on them and stay in the party. We've to improve the management of our issues so that we don't have expulsions every week and every month. But that's not to say we should ignore when someone is wrong simply because we want them to stay in the party," said Chombo.

He said the province was coalescing well after disagreements of the past. Vote of no confidence motions have resulted in recriminations leading to formation of parallel party structures in some provinces.

Chombo's comments come in the wake of reports by the provincial executive committee on the vote of no confidence motions passed against Makonde district Women's Quota representative in Parliament, Jennifer Mhlanga, on allegation of consorting with Zimbabwe People First elements.

The provincial Women's League wants her expelled from the party and recalled from Parliament. Joylin Munduna, Emily Maurukira, Idah Ngirizah and Martha Munondo were issued with prohibition orders and some recommended their expulsion for various offences including failure to attend meetings.

Chombo said disciplinary shortcomings in the party were spawning disunity. This, he said, had resulted in some cadres rejecting the verdicts of party disciplinary processes and choosing to leave the party.

Central committee member Phillip Chiyangwa weighed in saying the party could not continue expelling members without closely scrutinising the charges they were facing.

"When you bring issues to higher bodies like the PCC, as the provincial executive you need to have done your homework thoroughly. For sure we can't continue to expel people from Zanu-PF without first understanding if the person has indeed committed an offence," said Chiyangwa while addressing Keith Guzah who is the provincial disciplinary committee chairperson.

"We don't want to lose people. The ideal is for people to come to Zanu-PF." Walter Chidhakwa raised a red flag on moves by the provincial executive to bring issues to the PCC, which they had not concluded. He said relevant organs of the party should do all the groundwork and bring recommendations to the PCC after thorough investigations.