Zanu-PF suspends 11 members

ZANU-PF Midlands province has suspended 11 Kwekwe district members from the party for up to five years for allegedly setting up parallel structures in the province. Acting provincial chairperson, Kizito Chivamba confirmed the suspensions of one provincial leader and 10 district chairpersons.

The suspensions were made even though the Zanu-PF national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere had previously announced that no party members were to be suspended.

Those who were suspended are Cdes Honest Deura, the Provincial Secretary for Indigenisation; Maclean Nyamucherera, Dr Muzenda District chairperson; Shepard Mazambani, Deputy Secretary for Lands, Dambudzo District; Jabulani Magudze, Secretary for Transport and Welfare, Jongwe B District; Lybson Jaure, Chitepo A District Youth Chairperson; Pambano Phiri, Youth Chairperson Rusununguko District; Dennis Chikomba, Gutsaruzhinji Youth Wing Chairperson; Munyaradzi Muranda, Youth Chairperson Gukurahundi B District; Bridget Chivi, Secretary Takawira District; Prosper Mafuruse Secretary for Commissariat, Mama Mafuyana District and Stanley Zibako, Secretary for Information and Publicity, Shingai District Youth Wing.

"Yes the province has suspended those members for conducting illegal and unsanctioned meetings, creating parallel party structures and absolute disregard of authority and disrespecting senior party leadership," said Chivamba yesterday.

In one of the suspension letters seen by Chronicle, Chivamba indicated that the suspended party members held an unsanctioned meeting and received food hampers from the Archbishop of Zvipozvomweya Apostolic Church, Kandros Mugabe on December, 24.

The meeting allegedly took place at Archbishop Mugabe's place of residence.

Mugabe is the secretary for finance in Kwekwe's Dambudzo district and in 2013 he was eyeing the Kwekwe central seat that was ultimately won by Zanu PF's Masango Matambanadzo.

"Party issues were discussed at that meeting. (Food) hampers were given to all participants (accused) who were all party members. There were no outsiders or members of the general public. The gifts were donated to the party for distribution in terms of the party standards," said Chivamba.

He said there was a hidden agenda behind the meeting.

In one of the suspension letters, Chivamba, however, said the full details of the meeting could not be established by the disciplinary committee as it was done in private.

Mazambani confirmed that he received a food hamper from the Archbishop.

"It's now a tradition that each Christmas the Archbishop gives party members food hampers. Even members in the provincial structures and Politburo sometimes receive such hampers. Now that they didn't receive last year, they're persecuting us," he said.

Archbishop Mugabe said he has been giving food hampers to party members over the years, and no one had ever queried it until now.

He said he contributes towards national events such as the Independence Day celebrations and donates to schools, the police and members of society who approach him for support.

The Archbishop said it was worrying that the party members would be suspended for up to five years for receiving food hampers when other members who sat in the disciplinary committee had been beneficiaries in the past.

"Yes I gave these members food hampers. At the same time it must be noted that they're also members of my church which supports the ruling party. So I think it's unfair and discriminatory to suspend them from the ruling party," he said.