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The announcement of the suspension of 39 Zanu-PF officials last Friday was a formality as some of them had disciplinary issues dating back to the party’s 6th National People’s Congress in December 2014, the revolutionary party’s spokesperson Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo has said.
Political analysts also weighed in to dismiss as baseless suggestions that the number of suspended Zanu-PF members indicated wide support for expelled Vice-President Dr Joice Mujuru in party structures.
Ambassador Khaya Moyo told The Sunday Mail yesterday that the Politburo endorsed First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe’s call for Zanu-PF to focus on unity.
“Recent suspensions of a number of Zanu-PF leaders across provinces by the Politburo on recommendation by the National Disciplinary Committee have been misconstrued by some sections of the media.
“There were no new suspensions, but a determination of outstanding cases, which had not been concluded by the time the last Congress was held last December. The insinuation that the recently announced suspensions ranging from two to five years contradict the First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe’s call that the party must, from henceforth, concentrate on national programmes and that we must unite, stop gossiping about each other, stop witch-hunting and that we must now concentrate on building the party and the economy through discipline and hard work, creates no contradiction whatsoever.”
On Friday, the Zanu-PF Politburo suspended 39 members, among them former national commissar Cde Webster Shamu and Dr Mujuru’s assistant, Cde Sylvester Nguni.
This brings to 141 the number of those suspended or expelled for involvement in a plot to unconstitutionally unseat President Mugabe.
Some sections of the media called the suspensions a “new purge” inconsistent with Amai Mugabe’s call for unity and development.
Ambassador Khaya Moyo said Zanu-PF’s National Disciplinary Committee would continue executing its mandate, adding, “Any indiscipline by any party member shall be handled through proper party channels as provided for by the constitution of the party. No one is above the party. In view of the confusion arising from the said suspensions, I must emphasise that they all took effect from the 1st of January. Those suspended remain party members, but hold no position in the party for the period they are suspended.
“The issue of whether they will continue to be Members of Parliament will be decided at a later date and we will make the announcement when the time comes.”
Political analyst Mr Godwin Mureriwa said it was simplistic to suggest the suspensions benefited Dr Mujuru.
“It is a myth, even to suggest that those suspended people still have links with Mujuru. Most of them are regretting their associations with her. What should be understood is that people support Zanu-PF because of the leadership of President Mugabe. It was President Mugabe who was overwhelmingly voted for by the people and not Mujuru.”
University of Zimbabwe Department of Political Studies chair Professor Charity Manyeruke added: “I know for certain that some of those who were expelled and suspended have got back to their senses. Remember, Dr Mujuru has confirmed that her views are different from Zanu-PF’s.”
Another analyst, who preferred anonymity, said, “It should be known that this is not the first time the party has dealt with rebellions. There was the Nhari rebellion; you had the Rugare Gumbos of this world plotting, but the party has marched on.”
Online Reporter