adminSamuel Kadungure Senior Reporter
ZANU-PF Manicaland has written to the national disciplinary committee demanding expulsion of Engineer Munacho Mutezo from the party and his recall from Parliament for filtering with the Zimbabwe People First. Eng Mutezo, who was serving a three-year suspension for being part of the former Vice-President, Dr Joice Mujuru’s cabal to oust President Mugabe from power, actively participated at a ZPF first meeting in Mutare on Sunday.
Another Zanu-PF Mutare Rural District Council Ward 16 councillor, Clr Lovemore Changadzo took part in the same meeting and the party wants him axed too.
Zanu-PF provincial secretary for administration, Cde Kenneth Saruchera, said on Wednesday that the party had sufficient evidence of Eng Mutezo and Mr Changadzo’s shenanigans and defection to ZPF.
“Initially the party had received reports from the leadership in Chimanimani and Mutare West of the pair’s involvement in mobilising support for the Zimbabwe People First in the two districts.
“We are now aware the two, who hold positions in Parliament and MRDC on Zanu-PF tickets were actively involved at the ZPF familiarisation meeting held in Mutare on Sunday. That they have openly showed the world their true colours goes to buttress a resolution passed by our provincial coordinating committee (PCC) recommending their expulsion. Procedure dictates that the provincial leadership recommends, which is what we have done,” said Cde Saruchera.
Eng Mutezo was seated on the front raw, next to another suspended Zanu-PF official Retired Brigadier General Elliot Kasu.
Ex-Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairperson, Ambassador Dr John Shumba Mvundura and Retired Major James Kaunye (ex-political commissar) also attended the meeting that was addressed by former Zanu-PF secretary and ZPF protagonist Mr Didymus Mutasa.
Former MDC-T legislators for Mutare West, Mr Shuwa Mudiwa and Mutasa-Nyanga Senator Patrick Chitaka also attended.
Efforts to get a comment Eng Mutezo, a former Zanu-PF Politburo member, were fruitless on Wednesday as he answered the call and when this reporter introduced himself and the subject, he pretended to be someone else.
“I am not Mutezo, I think you have called the wrong number. I am not Mutezo and did not attend that meeting,” he said before terminating the conversation.
Two more prompt attempts on his number failed to yield anything as Eng Mutezo had barred his mobile number for incoming calls.
ZPF co-ordinator for Manicaland, Mr James Kaunye, said it was within Eng Mutezo’s rights to attend the Mutare meeting since he was a ZPF member.
“The attendance was overwhelming and exceeded our expectations. It was a planning meeting following the registration of our party and launch in Harare, and true to your word, the two, Eng Mutezo and Changadzo attended the meeting as ZPF members. He was not a guest, but an official,” said Mr Kaunye.
Another ZPF official, Mr Charles Samuriwo, said if Zanu PF expels the pair, ZPF would field them as its candidates in the by-elections.
“He is a seating Zanu-PF MP in name since he is already an active member of ZPF. He has not defected, but it is Zanu-PF which has defected from the ideals of the liberation struggle and Eng Mutezo as a principled cadre he has aligned himself with the only party that remains guided by the ideals and ethos of the liberation struggle. If they fire him, he will square off with the Zanu-PF candidate in the by-election.
That will be our test case against Zanu-PF,” said Mr Samuriwo.
Last year, Zanu-PF national political commissar, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, saved Eng Mutezo when he shot down a request by Manicaland to have him recalled alongside other parliamentarians linked to Mr Mutasa.
He was reportedly assaulted during last year’s Independence Day celebrations in Nyanyadzi before being chased away from Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko’s familiarisation tour in Chimanimani.
Online Reporter