Top Mujuru allies ditch Mutasa

TOP allies of former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru have distanced themselves from a Press statement issued by erstwhile Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa in which he denounced the 6th National People's Congress held in December last year as a legal nullity.

They also effectively distanced themselves from Mutasa's plans to challenge the outcome of the congress in court, saying they were not disgruntled and had accepted the party membership's decision to relieve them of their duties.

Legal experts have since described Mutasa's legal bid as an exercise in futility, saying the planned application had no legal merit.

In his statement issued exclusively to the private media last week, Mutasa also said he was representing all past and current disgruntled members of Zanu-PF, effectively confirming the Mujuru cabal's links to anti-Zanu-PF forces and opposition groups like Mavambo.

Former Zanu-PF chairman for Manicaland John Mvundura dismissed Mutasa's statement as preposterous.

He said he had not had any communication with the former secretary for Administration since his failure to land a Central Committee post ahead of the 6th National People's Congress.

"I stand for His Excellency President Mugabe. I am not part of that group. I wait for instruction from the Head of State and I fully recognise the Zanu-PF 6th National People's Congress and all its resolutions," said Mvundura.

Mvundura was at the centre of a storm when he invited Mujuru to officiate at the burial of the remains of fallen heroes without following proper protocol.

He was later issued with a letter of reprimand from the Zanu-PF Politburo after which a vote of no confidence was passed on him by the Manicaland provincial leadership.

Another Mujuru ally, former deputy Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement, Tendai Savanhu, said he was busy at his farm and was not even aware of the actual contents of Mutasa's statement.

"I am at the farm and not in communication with Mutasa. I don't think he was referring to me when he said that his statement was representative of all those who were suspended or disgruntled. Please don't include me, I had no input into his statement," said Savanhu.

Former Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Retired Brigadier General Gwanesta, said he had nothing to say about Mutasa's personal statements issued in the press.

"I don't want to talk about things I don't know and don't want to be part of. Ngatimirei ipapo," Brig Gen Gwanetsa said.

Another former chairperson for Midlands Province, Jason Machaya, said Mutasa could not have been talking about him because he was not a disgruntled member.

"If you remember, I am the only one who voluntarily relinquished my position when the party said I should step down. I am currently working very well with my colleagues in the current executive, so definitely vaMutasa is speaking for himself," Machaya said.

Machaya was forced out of his position following a vote of no confidence passed by the Midlands executive, which accused him of -- among other misdemeanours -- failing to convene executive meetings as stipulated by the party's constitution that the executive must meet at least once every month. He was also accused of fanning factionalism and boycotting provincial rallies held to introduce party members to the provincial executive office holders.

Former Matabeleland South provincial chair and Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa, said the press statement issued by Mutasa was nonsensical in that he sought to distance himself from the 6th National People's Congress, which he actively mobilised and organised as the secretary for administration.

"I am a bona fide member of Zanu-PF who listens to what my leader Gushungo says. I accepted the decision of the party to relinquish my position and I continue being an ordinary card-carrying member of the party, and I am in no way disgruntled. He is definitely not representing my interests," Langa said.

However, former Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Temba Mliswa, said Mutasa had a democratic right as a citizen of Zimbabwe to express his views on any issue of national importance.

"I support Mutasa's right in expressing those sentiments. He raised serious (and) pertinent constitutional issues that he claims were violated. Who am I to question his right to freedom of expression when he says he is the founding member of Zanu-PF," said Mliswa.

Mliswa was booted out of the Mashonaland West Provincial executive for issuing disrespectful statements in the media and also being involved in some covert operations with an American spy agent, Eric Little, whom he at one time took to meet villagers in his constituency.

Mutasa's political career hangs by the thread as Manicaland is pressing for his expulsion from the party for not showing remorse following his alleged links to the plot to assasinate the President and replace him with Mujuru.

Senior Zanu-PF leaders have since dismissed Mutasa as delusional.