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Herald Reporters
ZANU-PF yesterday scoffed at the decision by former Minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Brigadier-General Ambrose Mutinhiri (Retired) to quit the party and join the G40 cabal’s New Patriotic Front as interim leader.
Brig-Gen Mutinhiri (Rtd) was reportedly “anointed” by former president Robert Mugabe and former First Lady Grace Mugabe as the leader of the G40 cabal’s new political project following a meeting at the former First Family’s residence at the Blue Roof mansion in Borrowdale last week.
Following the “anointment”, Brig-Gen Mutinhiri (Rtd) quit Zanu-PF last Friday.
Addressing a Press conference yesterday, Zanu-PF secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Simon Khaya Moyo described the move by Brig-Gen Mutinhiri (Rtd) as a selfish agenda to secure political relevance.
“All I can say is that I have worked with him for many years,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
“He is a human being and I believe he has got the right to make decisions of his choice. I only wonder if he would have taken this action had he remained in this administration as Minister of State for Mashonaland East. It is my view. I am not convinced he would have taken the position he has taken.”
The former minister, who has been described as “doubly beholden” to the Mugabe family after he was rescued twice from political oblivion, is understood to be in the process of recruiting new members to the project, a mutated version of the G40 cabal aimed at doing to President Mnangagwa, what Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn did to former president Mugabe’s voting total in 2008.
Cde Khaya Moyo reiterated that the Government of President Mnangagwa was not in place because of a military coup.
He rubbished attempts by certain elements of the society, opposition political parties and the media to question the legitimacy of Cde Mnangagwa’s Presidency.
“The party is aware of some related utterances associated with former Provincial Affairs Minister for Mashonaland East, Retired Brigadier-General Ambrose Mutinhiri’s resignation from the party,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
“It is abundantly clear that the notion is grossly misplaced and is mere cheap profiling by individuals with agenda to secure political relevance.”
Cde Khaya Moyo, who is also the acting Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, said President Mnangagwa ascended as a consequence of due constitutional processes conducted by the party following the political stabilisation intervention by the military.
“This is the position overwhelmingly accepted by the entire globe,” he said.
“For purposes of more clarity, the party’s central committee convened in special session on 19th November 2017 and recalled the former President, Cde RG Mugabe from the position of the party president and first secretary and further implored him to resign by midday on 20th November 2017 of which he did not pay heed.”
Cde Khaya Moyo said acting on the party’s instruction, Parliament instituted impeachment proceedings resulting in the recalling of the President in terms of Section 97 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 20). He said at the same time the Central Committee appointed Cde Mnangagwa as the interim President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF as well as the party’s nominee to fill the vacancy of President and Head of State and Government in terms of Part IV of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of Zimbabwe paragraph 14 (4) (b) as read together with subparagraph (5).
“The decisions were ratified by the extra-ordinary congress in December 2017,” he said. “It is abundantly clear that contrary to the false assertions that former President Cde RG Mugabe was forcibly removed from power through military action, the former incumbent duly submitted to motion of impeachment proceedings moved against him by the party and tabled before parliament hence his resignation as State President.”
On former President Mugabe’s grumbles over ill treatment non-payment of his fringe benefits, Cde Khaya Moyo said the former President could approach the sitting President and air his grievances.
“The sitting President is available. He can convey his ill-feelings, his situation to the President. They are in talking terms,” he said.
Asked on what will happen to the former President who defied the Government’s one farm policy and allocated himself 21 farms, Cde Khaya Moyo said President Mnangagwa has made it clear that no one is above the law with reference to corruption.
“All of us have been directed to declare our assets and we have submitted. We shall get to the day when we shall be told who owns what. We must all abide by the law.”
Cde Khaya Moyo said no one was untouchable. He said dealing with corruption would be a plus for Zanu-PF as the party heads for elections.
Online Reporter