The Sunday Mail
Lincoln Towindo
ZANU-PF members and organs are constitutionally-bound to heed President Mugabe’s directives when dealing with cases of alleged indiscipline to avoid fanning factionalism, a senior Politburo official has said.
Ruling party Secretary for Administration Dr Ignatius Chombo said President Mugabe was the sole centre of power and his call for constitutionalism was not a plea but an order.
He also said party officials and those members seconded to Government should simply focus on the duties assigned to them and steer clear of any other agendas.
Dr Chombo said disciplinary procedures were provided for in Article 10 of Zanu-PF’s constitution.
“The President was clear and unambiguous in that we should avoid unnecessary differences that divide us; be they tribal, regional or of whatever form.
“He has clearly spoken about the need for unity and continuing to work towards fostering development to propel the nation to greater heights. Those naysayers who are attacking the party and the President will be left with no agenda.
“There is a constitution which has to be followed. Each and every wing has a grievance resolution process that should be heeded when matters of indiscipline arise,” Dr Chombo said.
Some Zanu-PF members have been engaging in public spats, leading the ruling party’s First Secretary to warn against factionalism that has sought to pit First Lady Amai Mugabe against Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“We urge each and every Zanu-PF member to focus on what they were appointed to do, whether in the party or in Government. Anything else is unacceptable and only serves to divide the party,” Dr Chombo said.
In recent months, several party officials have been pushed out of their positions via votes of no confidence while in some cases there were allegations of little regard to constitutional disciplinary provisions.
The Politburo has endorsed some of the disciplinary action, and a fortnight ago Zanu-PF suspended Deputy Secretary for War Veterans Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, his wife Monica, and Women’s League Secretary for Administration Cde Esphina Nhari for three years each for gross misconduct and disloyalty.
Provincial youth chairpersons Cdes Godfrey Tsenengamu (Mashonaland Central), Godwin Gomwe (Harare), Vengai Musengi (Mashonaland West), Washington Nkomo (Matabeleland South), Khumbulani Mpofu (the Midlands) and Tamuka Nyoni (Matabeleland North) were expelled for indiscipline and misconduct.
Also expelled were leaders of Zanu-PF affiliates: Cdes Tonderai Chidawa (Zicosu), Norest Makururu (Youths in Mining), Collin Machingura (Youths in Farming), Memory Masengu (Youth Against Sanctions), Absolom Madusure (National Youth Service), Gabriel Togarepi (Ziliwaco Trust) and Innocent Mhlanga (Children of War Veterans); and party members Ms Rosiwita Chinyaure and T Bhasera.
Dr Chombo said President Mugabe remained firmly in charge and his mandate could only be reviewed at Zanu-PF’s National Congress due in 2019, after the 2018 general election.
“In 2013, President Mugabe sought the mandate to lead the country and the people of Zimbabwe duly gave him that mandate. In 2014, he was given the mandate to lead the party for the next five years and he is carrying two critical mandates from the party and Government.
“So, when he gives advice or a directive everyone should take counsel and comply. Our constitution is very clear; it states that when we go to Conference like we did in Victoria Falls last year, we are to declare that the President elected at the last Congress is the party’s State Presidential candidate for the next election.”
In 2014, the National People’s Congress unanimously picked the revolutionary establishment’s First Secretary and President as its sole candidate for the next Presidential election, constitutionally due in 2018.
This was after President Mugabe led Zanu-PF to a resounding electoral victory in 2013.
His position as the party’s numero uno was endorsed by the 2015 National People’s Conference.
However, successionists within Zanu-PF have been working against these outcomes, rapidly pushing towards subverting the party constitution, Congress and Conference.
Congress is Zanu-PF’s highest decision-making body whose selected functions can be carried out by Conference.
As stated by Dr Chombo in his convocation at the December 2015 indaba, Section 33(3) of Article 6 of Zanu-PF’s constitution says the powers and functions of the National People’s Conference shall be “to declare the President of the party elected at Congress as the State Presidential candidate of the party”.
Party Spokesperson Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo has also made clear that the President’s position was uncontestable as he was the only leader elected at Congress.
“The person who is at the centre of all party activities is, naturally, the President. He is the head of the party, the centre of power; the reason being that he is the only one, in terms of our amended constitution, who is elected at Congress.
“The rest of the people, including the VPs and the Politburo, are appointed by the President from elected Central Committee members.
“Given that scenario, naturally, he is the centre of power.
‘‘This is why some of us have always been bewildered and surprised when we hear that there are factions in the party.
“A faction obviously has a leader, and if you are a leader of a faction, it means you are also a centre of power. This is totally unacceptable and abominable,” he told The Sunday Mail in February.
