PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe on Thursday came short of
announcing his decision on beleaguered Zanu PF national political commissar,
Saviour Kasukuwere, declaring no party structure had the right to pass a
no-confidence vote on his appointees.
Mugabe told a gathering of the party’s women’s league that
Zanu PF provincial structures could pass no-confidence votes on officials
within their structures instead.
“They come with votes of no-confidences cooked up in
clandestine meetings and there are echoes everywhere,” he said.
“Let a province come forward and say we no longer want this
chairman and these are his indiscretions.
“We then follow proper procedures at the politburo and the
disciplinary committee then makes a decision.
“They can pass a vote of no-confidence on chairmen like
(Manicaland provincial chairman, Samuel) Undenge, but on (Information minister
Christopher) Mushowe or any member of the politburo, no, you cannot pass a
no-confidence vote.
“No, you cannot do that.”
Kasukuwere’s seemed to be fighting for his political life
after demonstrations against him in Mashonaland Central turned into nationwide
picketing by Zanu PF structures demanding that he be expelled on charges of
plotting against Mugabe.
The Local Government minister denied the allegations, but
Mugabe responded by setting up a committee led by Speaker of the National
Assembly Jacob Mudenda to investigate the allegations against the commissar.
Mugabe then chaired two politburo meetings that heard
evidence against Kasukuwere, as well as his defence before the Zanu PF leader
announced he would, along with his two deputies, Vice-Presidents Emmerson
Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, decide the commissar’s fate.
Kasukuwere is seen as a leading figure in a faction of Zanu
PF known as G40 that is bitterly opposed to Mnangagwa’s bid to succeed the veteran
strongman.
Mugabe also lashed out at unnamed party officials that he
claimed were baying for the removal of Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs
minister Martin Dinha, his counterparts from Manicaland (Mandi Chimene), Harare
(Mirriam Chikukwa) and Midlands (Jason Machaya).
“They want to replace these people, who we chose with some
from their pockets so that it becomes easier for them to be elected,” he said.
“You must learn to wait for your time. These ones have been
selected because we think they are suited to the job at hand.” Newsday
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