(Last Updated on November 18, 2015 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Dr Ignatius Chombo has warned ruling party provinces against arbitrarily passing votes of no confidence on members without following the party’s constitution, saying such actions should stop immediately.
Dr Chombo also cautioned against ignoring party procedures in taking disciplinary action on party members, a situation he said was of major concern to the Zanu-PF national leadership.
The warning by Dr Chombo comes in the wake of increased suspensions and counter-suspensions of party members in Zanu-PF ahead of the forthcoming 15th Annual National People’s Conference.
Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF members during the Masvingo provincial inter-district conference at the weekend, Dr Chombo expressed concern over the high number of disciplinary cases in the hands of the Zanu-PF National Disciplinary Committee that were not handled as per the party procedure.
“Provinces are advised that they should follow proper procedures when passing votes of no confidence on fellow party members and the leadership is concerned by the growing number of disciplinary cases being referred to the National Disciplinary Committee without having gone through the provincial, district and branch disciplinary committees,’’ he said.
“I want to make it clear that we expect the party constitution to be adhered to when passing votes of no confidence and taking disciplinary action against fellow party members in provinces,’’ he added.
Dr Chombo said Zanu-PF remained a formidable and unstoppable machine because of its strict adherence to its constitution.
He said failure to follow the party constitution in effecting disciplinary action against fellow party members was giving cannon fodder to some sections of the local media to pursue their regime change agenda.
“Let it be known that some sections of the media are even trying to take advantage of some elements in Zanu-PF who are not following the party constitution to advance their regime change agenda.
“We must know that the real war that we have as a country is to fight the illegal economic sanctions imposed the West,’’ he said.
He said the ruling party remained the dominant player on the local political scene having thrown the opposition into turmoil by sweeping clean all the by-elections held since the 2013 harmonised elections that were also resoundingly won by Zanu-PF.
Dr Chombo urged the Zanu-PF rank and file in Masvingo to stop associating with former Zanu-PF Politburo members Messers Dzikamai Mavhaire and Kudakwashe Bhasikiti.
“Stay away from (Mr) Mavhaire, stay away from (Mr) Bhasikiti. Those are failed politicians who will never take you anywhere. It’s just a piece of advice to you the people of Masvingo,’’ said Dr Chombo.
Speaking at the same event, Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial secretary for administration Cde Ezra Chadzamira said Masvingo was solidly behind President Mugabe’s continued leadership of Zanu-PF.