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Harare Bureau
The Zanu-PF Politburo yesterday set up a six-member National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) to immediately deliberate on the fate of former secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa who faces expulsion for utterances deemed to undermine the party and its leadership.The disciplinary committee is chaired by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko and includes Secretary for Legal Affairs Cde Patrick Chinamasa, Secretary for the Commissariat Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, Secretary for Security Cde Kembo Mohadi, Secretary for Women’s Affairs Cde Grace Mugabe and Secretary for Youths Cde Pupurai Togarepi.

Besides the Mutasa probe, the committee will also deal with other disciplinary matters that may be brought before it in the future.

Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said the committee was advised to “expeditiously” deal with the Cde Mutasa case.

“The issue of the former secretary for administration of our party, Cde Didymus Mutasa, was also raised and has been referred for deliberation to the new NDC. As you’re aware, after every congress a new NDC must be appointed and His Excellency has appointed a committee chaired by VP Mphoko,” Cde Khaya Moyo said while announcing the committee.

“They’ve been entrusted to deliberate on the issue of Cde Mutasa with reference to utterances and remarks he has made about the congress and the party.”

Cde Mutasa’s home province of Manicaland and his Headlands constituency wrote to the Politburo recently calling for the former Presidential Affairs Minister’s expulsion from the party for a range of indiscretions that include bringing the name of the party and its leadership into disrepute, corruption, dictatorial tendencies and abuse of women and under-age girls.

Cde Khaya Moyo said he was not sure if Cde Mutasa would be called to appear before the new NDC.

“They’ve been advised that they should move as quickly as possible but I don’t know what criteria they will follow,” he said.

On Tuesday, Cde Kasukuwere said Cde Mutasa’s actions had not been taken lightly and that there was little chance of him avoiding expulsion from the revolutionary party.

Turning to other matters, Cde Khaya Moyo said: “The President and First Secretary of the party, Cde Mugabe, welcomed the new Politburo members and wished them well in their respective tasks.”

“The Secretary for Administration Cde Ignatius Chombo presented a post-mortem report of the 6th National People’s Congress. The detailed report was well received, deliberated upon and endorsed by the Politburo. It was observed that this was a resounding congress with far reaching recommendations.”

The congress amended the party’s constitution to allow the President to appoint his deputies after it was noted the previous system when they were elected had resulted in former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her cabal creating new centres of power to challenge President Mugabe.

Cde Khaya Moyo said Cde Kasukuwere also reported on the recently concluded selection of candidates for Chirumanzu-Zibagwe and Mt Darwin West constituencies.

He said the Politburo had endorsed the candidatures of Cde Auxilia Mnangagwa and Barnwell Seremwe for Chirumanzu-Zibagwe and Mt Darwin West respectively.

He said the Politburo had emphasised the need for unity in all party structures.

“The Political Commissar also gave a comprehensive report on his recent visits to provinces with emphasis being on the unity of the party and restructuring from the cell upwards. There was also need to focus on development especially on our economic blueprint, Zim-Asset,” Cde Khaya Moyo said.

The restructuring of the party is currently underway in all provinces.

Meanwhile, Cde Khaya Moyo said the party  was excited about the impending ascension of President Mugabe to the chairmanship of the African Union.

“The President had to leave (Politburo meeting) a bit earlier because he’s heading to the AU Summit where we’re obviously excited to learn that he’ll be taking over the chairmanship of the AU at its meeting this week,” he said.