News / National
Zanu-PF MPs in near fistfight
29 Jun 2016 at 10:34hrs | Views
A ZANU-PF meeting in Chipinge at the weekend almost got out of hand when Information Communication Technology deputy minister Win Mlambo and Chipinge South legislator Enock Porusingazi nearly exchanged blows as infighting continues to rear its ugly head in President Robert Mugabe's party.
Things heated at the meeting held in the Tanganda area when Mlambo allegedly tried to bar Porusingazi from attending a leadership meeting on the basis that he was serving a suspension.
Mlambo, who is also Chipinge East legislator, blamed Porusingazi and some provincial leaders for the fracas.
But Porusingazi said he did not understand why Mlambo was fighting him.
"The learned colleague, honourable MP and deputy minister is mistaken. What he ought to know is I am a full member of Zanu-PF though demoted to card-carrying member. I am a sitting MP and as such, I did not gatecrash into my party meeting. I had an invitation and, in fact, my attendances into these meetings have the blessings of my party chairman (Samuel) Undenge and the national commissar (Saviour Kasukuwere)," Porusingazi said.
After the meeting, the Chipinge South legislator reportedly inquired why Mlambo wanted to bar him.
"To my surprise, he threatened me. He should read between a suspension and an expulsion and in any case my letter reads that I am full member of the party with all rights and benefits except that I will not occupy an elected party post until my suspension is over," Porusingazi said.
He alleged Mlambo had been on his case for several years now.
"I don't know why my fellow MP and village man and relative is always fighting me ever since his return from the Diaspora and entry into politics. From 2014 until now he has been fighting me and always creating big problems in my constituency yet he has his own. I know he wants me finished, but why? We need to work together for the good of our people and our party," the prominent Manicaland businessman said.
But Mlambo denied being the aggressor.
"I highlighted in the leadership meeting that if the party takes a decision, the decision must be respected. Porusingazi was suspended and it is indiscipline and rebellion for the lower organ of the party to defy a position taken by the leadership," Mlambo said yesterday, emphasising he was not mandated to speak to the Press over the matter.
"Porusingazi was suspended, the suspension says he will remain an MP and that he will only attend provincial meetings just like (Chimanimani West legislator Munacho) Mutezo," he alleged.
He accused the provincial political commissar, Simon Mapfumo, of conniving to let Porusingazi attend the leadership meeting.
"After the meeting Porusingazi threatened to beat me up for what I had said. I told him he was going too far and overstepping his mandate as an MP. I told him he shouldn't threaten me over what I said," Mlambo said.
Things heated at the meeting held in the Tanganda area when Mlambo allegedly tried to bar Porusingazi from attending a leadership meeting on the basis that he was serving a suspension.
Mlambo, who is also Chipinge East legislator, blamed Porusingazi and some provincial leaders for the fracas.
But Porusingazi said he did not understand why Mlambo was fighting him.
"The learned colleague, honourable MP and deputy minister is mistaken. What he ought to know is I am a full member of Zanu-PF though demoted to card-carrying member. I am a sitting MP and as such, I did not gatecrash into my party meeting. I had an invitation and, in fact, my attendances into these meetings have the blessings of my party chairman (Samuel) Undenge and the national commissar (Saviour Kasukuwere)," Porusingazi said.
After the meeting, the Chipinge South legislator reportedly inquired why Mlambo wanted to bar him.
"To my surprise, he threatened me. He should read between a suspension and an expulsion and in any case my letter reads that I am full member of the party with all rights and benefits except that I will not occupy an elected party post until my suspension is over," Porusingazi said.
He alleged Mlambo had been on his case for several years now.
"I don't know why my fellow MP and village man and relative is always fighting me ever since his return from the Diaspora and entry into politics. From 2014 until now he has been fighting me and always creating big problems in my constituency yet he has his own. I know he wants me finished, but why? We need to work together for the good of our people and our party," the prominent Manicaland businessman said.
But Mlambo denied being the aggressor.
"I highlighted in the leadership meeting that if the party takes a decision, the decision must be respected. Porusingazi was suspended and it is indiscipline and rebellion for the lower organ of the party to defy a position taken by the leadership," Mlambo said yesterday, emphasising he was not mandated to speak to the Press over the matter.
"Porusingazi was suspended, the suspension says he will remain an MP and that he will only attend provincial meetings just like (Chimanimani West legislator Munacho) Mutezo," he alleged.
He accused the provincial political commissar, Simon Mapfumo, of conniving to let Porusingazi attend the leadership meeting.
"After the meeting Porusingazi threatened to beat me up for what I had said. I told him he was going too far and overstepping his mandate as an MP. I told him he shouldn't threaten me over what I said," Mlambo said.
Source - newsday
