ZANU PF has shut its doors on exiled former minister Saviour Kasukuwere, accusing him of being arrogant and disrespectful to party leader President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Kasukuwere fled the country into self-imposed exile
alongside other G40 members, who include former ministers Jonathan Moyo, Walter
Mzembi and Patrick Zhuwao following the November 2017 coup that ousted longer
time ruler, the late Robert Mugabe.
The G40 was a camp allegedly aligned to former First Lady
Grace Mugabe that was forced to escape into exile, when President Emmerson
Mnangagwa assumed power.
Other G40 members such as former Local Government minister
Ignatius Chombo were unlucky not to escape, and have faced various criminal
abuse of office charges.
Zanu PF director for information Tafadzwa Mugwadi said the
ruling party had shut its doors on Kasukuwere, accusing him of undermining
Mnangagwa and his leadership.
“As a matter of policy, the party does not negotiate with
individuals who seek to return or trace their roots to the party. Rather, those
who seek to return know what to do if ever they were truly and genuinely in it
before, they know the rules and procedures to follow,” he said.
“It’s unfortunate that his case might be a different one
because there is no remorse, repentance nor positive revolutionary conduct in
him. He has continued on a path to denigrate, undermine and insult the party,
its leadership and its ethos, clandestinely presenting himself as a political
phenomenon. That behaviour stands in his way. Be that as it may, the leadership
of the party will advise accordingly as and when he does the necessary
procedures.”
It is understood that Kasukuwere has been trying to worm
his way back into the ruling party through high-level negotiations.
Sources in Zanu PF claimed that the former Local Government
minister has also dangled US$30 000 to the Harare Women’s League chairperson
Ratidzo Mukarati to “support G40’s bid to wrest State power”.
The sources also said party bigwigs were closely monitoring
events around the upcoming Zanu PF women’s elective conference, where Mnangagwa
allies fear G40 elements aligned to Kasukuwere can grab positions.
Kasukuwere confirmed the high-level talks to enable him to
return to the ruling party.
“People have spoken and people continue to speak. We must
listen to our people and act. Everyone is involved and engaged. The way forward
has been written on stone. There is no going back,” he said in an interview
with NewsDay.
“We are glad that those who led Operation Restore Legacy
have realised that as they were busy engaged with discussion on serious party
issues with former president Mugabe, unscrupulous people whose agenda was to
topple President Mugabe and install Mnangagwa had always been known, took
advantage of the talks and captured our party. Illegal central committee of
November 2017 must be remedied.”
The ruling party has perennially been beset with
infighting, which has sometimes resulted in violent running battles, and this
was laid bare during campaigning for the recent district and provincial
positions. Newsday
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