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Lincoln Towindo
Several senior politicians suspended or expelled from Zanu-PF for factionalism and indiscipline in 2015/16 want readmission into party structures and their cases will be heard this week.
Among the 40 appeals received are those of ex-ICT, Postal and Courier Services Minister Webster Shamu; his wife Mrs Constance Shamu, ex-Transport Minister Nicholas Goche and National Assembly members Kindness Paradza and Ziyambi Ziyambi.
In early 2015, Zanu-PF disciplined elements in former Vice-President Dr Joice Mujuru’s cabal for plotting to unconstitutionally topple President Mugabe in both Government and the ruling party.
Some were expelled, some suspended, and others relegated to ordinary card-carrying members, with others still demoted in 2016 for various acts of indiscipline.
In keeping with natural justice, Zanu-PF’s First Secretary and President constituted the National Appeals and Review Committee to hear aggrieved individuals.
VP Phelekezela Mphoko chairs the appeals committee and will oversee its first sitting this week.
The committee — comprising Central Committee members — will consider merits of individual cases and could order retrials. It has authority to summon any party member to give evidence.
Some appellants may not be required to appear before the committee, but simply write a formal report or present evidence to support their appeal.
Zanu-PF National Secretary for Administration Dr Ignatius Chombo told The Sunday Mail: “In Zanu-PF, every person accused of indiscipline or any transgression is tried at his/her level; from the cell right up to provincial level.
“When the provincial disciplinary committee passes judgment against an accused member, that judgment and a report of the hearing proceedings are taken to the Politburo for review and/or endorsement.
“The Politburo has the National Disciplinary Committee to verify these cases, interrogating reports and the parties involved.
‘‘The NDC establishes whether grounds for the sanction to be upheld exist, and can ratify or overturn a ruling. These are the rulings that our Secretary for Information communicates to the Press after some Politburo meetings.”
He continued: “Requests for appeals of rulings by the NDC are taken to my office as the Secretary for Administration, and when we have enough of the appeals in our files, I will report to the Chair of the Appeals Committee who will convene a meeting of the committee.
“It is this committee that will look at the appeals and see whether there are grounds to overturn the NDC verdicts, alter or uphold them based on the merits of individual cases.
“The committee has the authority to request the individuals to appear before it for a trial or to write a report, stating the merits of their cases. Its decision is final. Once a ruling is made, the Secretary for Administration should write to the affected party, formally informing him/her of the outcome.
“However, if a member is also not satisfied with that decision, the party’s constitution affords them the opportunity to appeal to Congress, which, as you know, convenes after five years.”
Only one case has gone that far: In 2004, former Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chair Mr Jabulani Sibanda appealed to Congress to overturn his suspension.
Online Reporter