Zanu-PF Politburo orders Mutasa probe

The Zanu-PF Politburo yesterday set up a six-member national disciplinary committee to immediately deliberate on the fate of former secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa who faces expulsion for utterances deemed to undermine the party and its leadership.

The disciplinary committee is chaired by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko and includes Secretary for Legal Affairs Patrick Chinamasa, Secretary for the Commissariat Saviour Kasukuwere, Secretary for Security Kembo Mohadi, Secretary for Women's Affairs Grace Mugabe and Secretary for Youths Pupurai Togarepi.

Besides Mutasa's probe, the committee will also deal with other disciplinary matters that may be brought before it in the future.

Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo said the committee was advised to "expeditiously" deal with the case.

"The issue of the former secretary for Administration of our party Didymus Mutasa was also raised and has been referred for deliberation to the new NDC. As you are aware, after every congress a new NDC must be appointed and His Excellency has appointed a committee chaired by VP Mphoko," Khaya Moyo said while announcing the committee.

"They have been entrusted to deliberate on the issue of Mutasa, with reference to utterances and remarks he has made about congress and the party."

Mutasa's home province of Manicaland and his Headlands Constituency wrote to the Politburo recently calling for the former Presidential Affairs Minister's expulsion from the party for a range of indiscretions that include bringing the name of the party and its leadership into disrepute, corruption, dictatorial tendencies and abuse of women and under-age girls.

Khaya Moyo said he was not sure if Mutasa would be called to appear before the new NDC.

"They have been advised that they should move as quickly as possible but I don't know what criteria they will follow," he said.

On Tuesday Kasukuwere said Mutasa's actions had not been taken lightly and that there was little chance of him avoiding expulsion from the revolutionary party.

Turning to other matters, Khaya Moyo said: "The President and First Secretary of the party Mugabe welcomed the new Politburo members and wished them well in their respective tasks," he said.

"The Secretary for Administration Ignatius Chombo presented a post-mortem report of the 6th National People's Congress. The detailed report was well received, deliberated upon and endorsed by the Politburo. It was observed that this was a resounding congress with far reaching recommendations."

The congress amended the party's constitution to allow the President to appoint his deputies after it was noted the previous system when they were elected had resulted in former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her cabal creating new centres of power to challenge President Mugabe.

Khaya Moyo said Kasukuwere also reported on the recently concluded selection of candidates for Chirumanzu-Zibagwe and Mt Darwin West constituencies.

He said the Politburo had endorsed the candidatures of Auxillia Mnangagwa and Barnwell Seremwe for Chirumanzu-Zibagwe and Mt Darwin West respectively.

He said the Politburo had emphasised the need for unity in all party structures.

"The Political Commissar also gave a comprehensive report on his recent visits to provinces with emphasis being on the unity of the party and restructuring from the cell upwards. There was also need to focus on development especially on our economic blueprint, Zim-Asset," Khaya Moyo said.

The restructuring of the party is currently underway in all provinces.