ZANU PF bigwigs in Midlands Province have denied reports that they are pushing for Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena’s expulsion from the party.
Wadyajena and three Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (COTTCO) officials, currently on $100 000 bail each, are accused of fraud and money laundering involving over US$5 million.
NewsDay reported sources as saying senior ZANU PF officials in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s home province, Midlands, want Wadyajenaa to be expelled for bringing the ruling party’s name into disrepute.
July Moyo, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Mike Bimha reportedly approached Midlands provincial chairperson Larry Mavhima asking him to write a letter expelling Wadyajena from ZANU PF. Said the unnamed official:
The trio were unequivocal about their demands. They cited Priscah Mupfumira, who was fired in Mashonaland West for the same allegations.
Mupfumira, who is the former Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, was expelled from the party following her arrest for corruption.
But Mnangagwa is said to be against the expulsion of his close ally Wadyajena. He reporteldy told Mavhima:
If they want to leave the party, they can. Wadyajena is not going anywhere. How do you expel someone based on allegations?
We will only act after court processes if there is a conviction and an appeal is lodged and he loses.
Mavhima, whoever, told NewsDay that he was unaware of a move to have Wadyajena fired from ZANU PF. He said:
I am sick and tired of people who want to cause divisions in the party.
There are some people who do not want unity in the party.
They just want verbal exchanges serving their own interest.
We are not going to be fighting, we are all united behind President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
ZANU PF political commissar Mike Bimha denied claims he had been approached by Mavima. He said:
ZANU PF is an organised party and it follows due processes. I cannot just pick up the phone and instruct a senior member like Mavima to expel someone.
If there are issues, a disciplinary hearing will be conducted.
Gumbo conceded that he met Mavhima at the weekend but the issue of Wadyajena was not discussed. Gumbo said:
I met Mavhima during the weekend at a party meeting in the Midlands. I did not speak to him about that issue and none of the people you mentioned spoke to me about that issue.
I want to emphasise that I did not meet Mavima privately during or after the meeting in Midlands.