Zanu-PF to take disciplinary action against Gapa

Zanu-PF says it will not hesitate to take disciplinary action against its Central Committee member Luckmore Tinashe Gapa if he is found guilty of allegedly stealing a mobile phone from human rights lawyer Doug Coltart during a heated parliamentary public hearing on Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 in Harare last week.

The incident reportedly occurred at the City Sports Centre during chaotic proceedings marked by disruptions and tensions between political actors and members of the public.

Coltart has since filed a police report against Gapa, who is a member of the ruling party's Central Committee, after a video allegedly showed him grabbing and running off with the lawyer's phone.

In a statement posted on X, Zanu-PF Treasurer Patrick Chinamasa said the allegations were serious and damaging to the party's reputation, stressing that the matter should be dealt with through the courts.

Chinamasa said that if Gapa is convicted, he would face internal disciplinary proceedings and possible removal from the party's Central Committee.

He added that the matter would be referred to the Zanu-PF National Disciplinary Committee, chaired by National Chairman Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, should a court find him guilty.

The incident took place during public consultations on the proposed constitutional amendment, which includes provisions aimed at extending the tenure of the President and Parliament to 2030.

The hearings were disrupted amid clashes and accusations between opposing political groups, with Zanu-PF blaming opposition-aligned individuals for deliberately derailing the process.

Chinamasa further accused so-called “agents provocateurs” of engineering chaos to attract international attention and undermine the consultation process, while also criticising some party supporters for failing to manage the situation effectively.

The matter involving Gapa is now expected to proceed through the legal system as investigations continue.