Zimpapers Logo

. . . disrupts Mash West PCC meeting

. . . claims to be still in charge

Zanu-PF Political Commissar Cde Webster Shamu (centre) addresses delegates while ousted Mashonaland West provincial chairman Cde Temba Mliswa (in a cap), heckles him in Chinhoyi yesterday

Chinhoyi Bureau
THERE was drama at the Zanu-PF Mashonaland West Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC) meeting at the Public Service Training Centre here yesterday where ousted provincial chairman Cde Temba Mliswa refused to leave the venue, insisting he was still in charge. The meeting, which was held under the watchful eye of police officers as emotions ran high, nearly degenerated into chaos as parties heckled each other, while Cde Mliswa could not allow Politburo members Cdes Ignatius Chombo and Webster Shamu to address the PCC.

Cde Chombo, the most senior Politburo member in Mashonaland West, was tasked by the Politburo to oversee processes leading to the party’s 6th National People’s Congress in December, and was giving that feedback as well as announcing the eight sub-committees that will help in preparations namely: the documentation and legal committee, finance, organisation, security, information and publicity, transport and welfare, health, and entertainment.

In typical preacher-translator style, Cde Chombo would read a circular outlining the responsibilities of committees preparing for the forthcoming Congress and Cde Mliswa would read the same circular in Shona.

He insisted that as the provincial chairman, he was supposed to read the circular to the PCC as he also got a copy of the same.
Even an intervention by national political Commissar Cde Shamu, was also met with some interjections as Cde Mliswa insisted he was still the chairman.

He argued that the Politburo, which upheld his dismissal from the chairmanship in the wake of a vote of no confidence passed by the provincial leadership, was still to furnish him with a letter confirming his dismissal.

“Cde Chombo you cannot go on addressing the meeting, I am the chairman. There is no letter from the Politburo which says I have been dismissed as chairman.
“The disciplinary committee has not sat to look at my case as announced by the politburo,” he said.

Others in the meeting could be heard siding with Cde Mliswa while some said he was disrespecting the provincial leadership by speaking while they were also speaking.
The meeting was also punctuated with slogans such as “Pasi ne Gamatox” and “Pasi neZvipfukuto” that define the party along factional lines.

Cde Chombo went on to announce the eight sub-committees as the sulking Cde Mliswa later receded and sat through the meeting before eventually leaving as the meeting broke into committees.

The meeting was later held outside the venue as Cde Mliswa maintained that it should not proceed.
Cde Chombo later confirmed the ouster of Cde Mliswa, saying it was the position of the Politburo.

“As of today (yesterday) Cde Temba Mliswa is not the chairman of Mashonaland West province….Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi the deputy Minister for Home Affairs is the acting chairman of Mashonaland West province,” he said. “This is coming from a decision that Politburo made last week on Friday after it received reports from the provincial executive that a Vote of No Confidence had been passed against Cde Mliswa who was the provincial chairman.”

Politburo member Cde Patrick Zhuwao said Cde Mliswa was using erroneous statements issued by party spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo to subvert the position of the party.
“The problem is that Cde Mliswa is using statements issued by Cde Rugare Gumbo to subvert the party. I have checked the minutes of the Politburo and there is no such thing on disciplinary matters being frozen until after Congress,” he said.

Cde Zhuwao said Cde Mliswa was contradicting himself by saying he wanted to appear before the disciplinary committee when he said the Politburo had directed that there should be such disciplinary cases until after congress.

He said Cde Mliswa’s case was not of a disciplinary nature as the provincial executive passed a vote of no confidence.
Cde Zhuwao said in cases of a disciplinary nature, Article 10 of the National and Subordinate Disciplinary Committees Section 74 of the party constitution say charges should be laid out and the concerned member goes before a disciplinary hearing and a prohibition order will be issued out.

Instead, he said, its members of his executive committee who have no confidence in his ability to discharge his duties as the provincial chairman.
“I am tempted to believe that Cde Gumbo is complicity in trying to subvert the process. I have no evidence but anybody who is reasonable can see that. I don’t know who else he is conniving with to ensure that Cde Mliswa illegally becomes the chairman,” he said.

Cde Mliswa refused to comment on the matter yesterday.