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Bulawayo Bureau
ZANU-PF secretary for the Commissariat Cde Saviour Kasukuwere has nullified all co-options in provinces meant to replace members who were suspended in the run-up to the 6th National People’s Congress last December. The co-options were also made to replace provincial members who had been elevated to the Central Committee.

A number of officials were suspended in the run up to the Congress for a number of intransigencies ranging from defying the party, the authority of President Mugabe and working with a cabal led by axed Vice President Joice Mujuru plotting to overthrow the Head of State.

Addressing Zanu-PF party members in two meetings held in Gwanda, Matabeleland North and Bulawayo yesterday Cde Kasukuwere said provinces should instead write to the party identifying members who were suspended so that they are served with letters.

He said the provinces should also indicate gaps left by suspended members in their bid to make replacements rather than conduct clandestine co-options.

Provinces like Matabeleland South, North, Midlands and Bulawayo had already co-opted members but Cde Kasukuwere yesterday said he spoke to the respective structures and told them that the action was null and void.

“Some want to pick their friends and say you are now secretary of administration. Tell me the positions that are vacant and we write letters properly and we give you authority so that you do your work properly,” said Cde Kasukuwere addressing members in Matabeleland South.

“We must avoid making arbitrary decisions. What I’m saying is what the party is saying. I was sent by the leadership.”

Later in Bulawayo, Cde Kasukuwere said he had nullified a co-option by the provincial youth league to replace members suspended before the congress.

“You wake up after buying each other beer in the bar and say we have put you here, I have told my young man here (provincial youth chairperson Cde Khumbulani Mpofu ) that stop it, whatever you agreed is null and void,” said Cde Kasukuwere.

“Let’s write through the chairperson highlighting the gaps in Bulawayo.

“Chairman we want to know all those who were suspended and we send them letters and we know the vacancies. A person will be written a letter stating their charges so that its official that they were suspended.

“From there we can take that information to the Politburo and get authority from the seniors that in Bulawayo, Masvingo, and Midlands that party position is this,” he said.

Cde Kasukuwere said the party decided to nullify the co-options to avoid chaos in the party as some officials were co-opting their friends.

“People were co-opting their friends into the party. When co-options are being done, we will give you the clearance, for now acting chairperson tell us of the gaps in the youth, women’s and main wing.

“After giving us then we can give you the green light,” he said.

“You first of all inform the leadership and we tell them that because of certain circumstances Cde so and so went out and were written a letter, stating for how long they should not occupy positions. We don’t want a situation that will degenerate into chaos.”

Cde Kasukuwere said relevant structures have to be involved in the co-option of members.

“You cannot just wake up in the morning and say I have co opted so and so, you will co opt a big Gamatox that will give you problems and then you start beating each other. You would have killed Zanu-PF. So please give us all names of suspended members and I will be attending politburo meeting next week and give elders to cross check and then agree on the co-options.”

Cde Kasukuwere visits Matabeleland North today which becomes the eighth province to be visited as part of his programme to assess the state of the party structures.