Mutasa labelled selfish leader

Cletus Mushanawani News Editor
DISGRACED former Zanu-PF secretary for administration, Cde Didymus Mutasa, has been described as a selfish leader who always wants his wishes to prevail all the time.Cde Mutasa, who dismally lost the Makoni Central Committee elections after polling the least number of votes among the five candidates who were vying for the four slots for the district during the November 24 elections, was this week quoted in the private Press describing the just-ended 6th National People’s Congress as a non-event and unconstitutional.

Interviewed party cadres had harsh words for the once Manicaland political godfather, with some of them describing him as a candidate for the psychiatric unit.

Minister of Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, said Cde Mutasa had proved that he was never a party cadre at heart, but was in the party for positions only.

“Considering his age, people like Cde Didymus Mutasa deserve our respect, but he lost it where it matters most. His statement was an attention seeking gimmick, but we are not naive and we know that he is not the author of the so-called statement. In short, we are saying may his political life rest in peace. We expect maturity and wisdom from him and not this madness. Cde Mutasa has simply lost direction and has sold out the causes of the liberation struggle. He has lost all our respect. In short, vaMutasa vapanduka and showing his true colours.

“He used to call us for meetings at his kuGomo house in Rusape where he would tell us that it was high time we have new leadership in the party and this is just a confirmation of his wishful thinking. He can stoop so low to achieve whatever he wants, a reason why he used to associate himself with disgraced people like Sheila Mutsenhu whom he hired to cause chaos at a Zanu-PF provincial co-ordination committee meeting held at Marymount Teachers’ College last year,” said Cde Chimene.

She said Cde Mutasa should not cry foul now as he caused political persecution of his perceived enemies among them Cdes Mike Madiro and Monica Mutsvangwa.

“It is quite surprising that Cde Mutasa is saying procedures were not followed during the run-up to our highly successful 6th National People’s Congress, yet he is well known for flouting procedures and the constitution during his tenure as the secretary for administration. He should blame himself for plotting his own downfall because of his selfishness. He caused the unconstitutional removal of Cde Madiro from office as the provincial chairman. He single-handedly ousted Cde Mutsvangwa from the Central Committee because she had contested for the Manicaland provincial chairperson seat. Now swords are turned against him, he now wants the world to see him as a victim. Yes, he is a victim of his self-centredness.

“No-one should shed a tear for him because he lost the plot. He should be recalled as Headlands’ National Assembly member because he won the seat riding on Zanu-PF’s back. People voted for Zanu-PF and not him because everyone knows that Cde Mutasa has no support base in Manicaland despite throwing his weight around,” said Cde Chimene.

Acting Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial chairman, Dr Samuel Undenge, said it was shocking to hear Cde Mutasa distancing himself from the congress in which he actively participated in.

“As the secretary for administration, it was Cde Mutasa who wrote letters to all provinces asking them to prepare for the December Congress. He absented himself from the 6th National People’s Congress citing illness. He participated in all Politburo meetings where the constitutional amendments were made. He also actively participated in all the national congress build-up meetings. He was in charge of all congress preparation meetings in Manicaland. For him to say the congress was unconstitutional it boggles the mind.

“He participated in the Makoni Central Committee elections which were presided by one of his relative, Cde Guy Mutasa, so where are his claims that the one-man, one-vote electoral process was not followed coming from? Maybe Cde Mutasa is losing his mind because a normal person who sat in all the congress build up meetings cannot wake up and denounce the whole process he was part and parcel of.

“As Manicaland, we are saying Cde Mutasa should be expelled from the party. In short, he has expelled himself from the party through his uncalled for grandstanding,” said Dr Undenge.

Youth League provincial vice-chairman, Cde Mubuso Chinguno, said Cde Mutasa was now showing his true political colours and as the youths they want him expelled with immediate effect.

“The writing was clear on the walls from the onset that Cde Mutasa wanted power at all costs. He caused all sorts of divisions in Manicaland and wants to take this to a higher level. His actions show disrespect of President Mugabe and there is no room for divisive elements in the party.

“We are prepared to dig Cde Mutasa’s political grave because he cannot be allowed to continue dragging Manicaland’s name in the mud. Enough is enough, we want Cde Mutasa and his cabal out of Zanu-PF as soon as yesterday,” he said.