News / National
Zanu-PF purges backfire
29 Apr 2016 at 13:55hrs | Views
THE chaotic votes-of-no-confidence used to oust the former vice-president Joice Mujuru and her high-profile allies in the run up to the 2014 Zanu-PF congress have boomeranged, coming back to haunt those who used them to their advantage.
This comes against the backdrop of the formation of the National Disciplinary Appeals Committee (NDAC), chaired by Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko to try and clean up the mess created by the mass purges.
Mphoko has been moved from the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) which is now chaired by the Zanu-PF legal secretary Patrick Chinamasa.
Mujuru and her supporters were removed through blatant, unconstitutional and illegal means during and in the aftermath of congress. After congress Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa's backers found themselves being purged by their erstwhile allies who coalesced around First Lady Grace Mugabe without due process being followed.
The suspensions and expulsions were carried out without hearings, while most votes-of-no-confidence were done through wrong organs and without the required two thirds majority.
Zanu-PF officials say the party is now desperately trying to disentangle itself from the problems it had created by allowing lawlessness to take root within its structures.
The officials, however, say factional interests would remain at play in both the NDC and NDAC.
"Mphoko, who in any case presided over most illegal dismissals, will chair the NDAC and will obviously push for his faction's interests," one official said.
"On the other hand, Chinamasa will protect the Mnangagwa camp's interests by ensuring he defends members of his faction."
The move to form the NDAC came after Mnangagwa and war veterans complained about the escalating expulsions of Zanu-PF members without following the party constitution. Three weeks ago Mugabe said suspended and expelled members had the right to appeal.
Zanu-PF officials say Mugabe's move on appeals was also designed to weaken Mujuru's Zimbabwe People First party.
This comes against the backdrop of the formation of the National Disciplinary Appeals Committee (NDAC), chaired by Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko to try and clean up the mess created by the mass purges.
Mphoko has been moved from the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) which is now chaired by the Zanu-PF legal secretary Patrick Chinamasa.
Mujuru and her supporters were removed through blatant, unconstitutional and illegal means during and in the aftermath of congress. After congress Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa's backers found themselves being purged by their erstwhile allies who coalesced around First Lady Grace Mugabe without due process being followed.
The suspensions and expulsions were carried out without hearings, while most votes-of-no-confidence were done through wrong organs and without the required two thirds majority.
The officials, however, say factional interests would remain at play in both the NDC and NDAC.
"Mphoko, who in any case presided over most illegal dismissals, will chair the NDAC and will obviously push for his faction's interests," one official said.
"On the other hand, Chinamasa will protect the Mnangagwa camp's interests by ensuring he defends members of his faction."
The move to form the NDAC came after Mnangagwa and war veterans complained about the escalating expulsions of Zanu-PF members without following the party constitution. Three weeks ago Mugabe said suspended and expelled members had the right to appeal.
Zanu-PF officials say Mugabe's move on appeals was also designed to weaken Mujuru's Zimbabwe People First party.
Source - the independent
