'Mujuru doesn't have mandate to expel'

The seven founding members of ZimPF expelled from the party this afternoon have castigated party leader, Joice Mujuru, saying she has no leadership qualities and does not have the mandate to expel them.

Just a few hours after Mujuru announced their expulsion from the party, the seven: Rugare Gumbo, Didymus Mutasa, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, Cladious Makova, Munacho Mutezo, Margaret Dongo and Luckson Kandemiri, called for a media briefing at the party offices in Highlands, Harare where they said Mujuru has just sidelined herself from ZimPF by not adhering to the party's constitution.

Gumbo and Mutasa scoffed at the idea that Mujuru has expelled them, saying they are the people who appointed her as interim president and therefore she does not have the mandate to expel them.

Gumbo added that he is not surprised by Mujuru's irrational decision because she does not have leadership qualities, while Mutasa said they are thoroughly fed up with her antics.

Bhasikiti and Makova concurred that Mujuru has just exposed her ignorance and inadequacies which they have always pointed out, with the later adding that Mujuru exhibited gross incompetence from day one.

Dongo, who was heading the ZimPF women's wing, accused Mujuru of being unprofessional and clueless, saying she refused to meet the women's wing for the past one and half years.
Kandemiri, the youth leader, said Mujuru has failed as a leader and as a woman as she was supposed to be the unifier in the party, Mutezo said Mujuru is not the ZimPF brand.

The expelled members agreed that there is strife in the party but said that is why they were holding meetings as the steering committee to find solutions to the challenges bedevilling their party.

One of the contentious issues they say was the re-assigning of Dzikamai Mavhaire from the National Mobilisation Committee.

They also accused Mujuru of surrounding herself with cronies and people who hero worship her.

They said they are willing to form a coalition with other opposition parties.