Zanu PF body endorses Makoni's expulsion

Zanu PF body endorses Makoni's expulsion

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By Lebo Nkatazo

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu PF party moved to contain a growing rebellion within its ranks this week, warning any members who challenge him that they face automatic expulsion.

The Zanu PF politburo, the party’s top decision making body, took the dramatic step after former finance minister Dr Simba Makoni announced he would challenge President Robert Mugabe in presidential elections on March 29.

Makoni has insisted he is still a Zanu PF member, and claims more than half of the party supports his stance.

Zanu PF spokesperson Nathan Shamuyarira said Makoni was in violation of the party’s resolution reached at last year’s extraordinary conference that Mugabe would be the party’s sole candidate.

Addressing a press conference Tuesday, Shamuyarira said the politburo was keen to clear up the matter of Makoni’s status in the party.

He said: “In the case of Simba Makoni, Zanu PF held its extraordinary congress in Harare from 12- 14 December 2007 after giving two months notice to all the provinces about the event of the extraordinary congress and the agenda thereto.

“Neither Simba Makoni nor Manicaland province forwarded his name for consideration for party candidacy for State president.”

“ …therefore, any party member, Simba Makoni included, who decides to stand as a Zanu PF candidate after this due process, stands automatically expelled from the party.”

Makoni is leading a charge by senior Zanu PF officials who claim that Mugabe subverted the Zanu PF constitution by blocking any challenges to his leadership at December’s extra-ordinary congress.

Announcing his candidature last week, Makoni said: “Let me affirm here, my faith and loyalty to the party (Zanu PF). I would very much have wished to stand as its official candidate. Unfortunately, as we all know, that opportunity was denied to any other cadre who would have offered themselves to serve the party and country.”

Shamuyarira contradicted that version of events, claiming paragraph 3 of of the resolutions of the Zanu PF extra ordinasry congress states that Mugabe was endorsed as the party’s candidate after “extensive deliberations”.

Meanwhile, Shamuyarira, who appeared alongside the party’s secretary for administrationm Didymus Mutasa, said the Zanu PF congress had also approved candidates to stand in senate, parliamentary and local government elections.

He said: “The major issue discussed was the preparation for the 2008 harmonised elections and in particular, the primary election process and examination of the party’s manifesto and campaign strategies.”
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