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Cde Rugare Gumbo

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Political analysts and zanu-pf members have welcomed the disciplinary action taken against senior party officials by the Politburo on Thursday, saying this will go a long way in strengthening the party and stem the tide of factionalism that was threatening its cohesion.

The Politburo made far-reaching decisions which included a five-year suspension on secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Rugare Gumbo and Central Committee member Cde Enoch Porusingazi and the expulsion of former war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda.

The Politburo also upheld the votes of no confidence passed on provincial chairmen Cdes Kalisto Gwanetsa (Masvingo), Amos Midzi (Harare), Jason Machaya (Midlands), Andrew Langa (Matabeleland South) and Masvingo Women’s League chairperson Cde Shylet Uyoyo and the province’s Youth League chairperson Cde Oliver Huruva.

Chairperson of the University of Zimbabwe Political Science Department Dr Charity Manyeruke said the Politburo’s decision showed that no individual was bigger than the party.

“The party is an institution with rules, regulations, procedures, and a code of conduct that every member should abide by,” she said.

“The decisiveness of their action shows that people should always put the interests of the party first ahead of any personal or other interests.”

Dr Manyeruke said the Politburo showed that Zanu-PF prioritises discipline among its members.

“It also shows that the centre still holds and it’s still in control of its members,” she said. “All those people that were implicated were elected by people to lead, but they had chosen to pursue their own selfish agenda, that is why action had to be taken.

“It is also important to note that Zanu-PF has weeded out bad elements that were threatening the stability of the party and from now going forward it should continuously be on alert to deal with such elements.”

Dr Manyeruke took a swipe at Cde Gumbo for using his position to pursue narrow factional interests, saying for one to be spokesperson of a political party, one had to rise above personal interests.

Prominent Harare lawyer Mr Terrence Hussein said following the uncertainties that had been created by events within Zanu-PF in the past few months, it was imperative that decisive action be taken.

“Because of what has been happening in the past few months and the uncertainties it had created it was obvious that decisive action had to be taken, some tough decisions had to be made and this is what they did on Thursday,” he said.

“It is obvious that it is painful to take tough decisions, but in this case it was important so that everyone gets the direction of where the party is going.”

Zanu-PF Harare Youth League chairman Cde Godwin Gomwe said it was time that order was restored to the ruling party.

“The import of that decision is that Zanu-PF has returned to the people where it belongs,” he said. “It had been hijacked by counter revolutionaries that were using money to divide the people. Zanu-PF has always been a people’s party and that is what it will be following Thursday’s Politburo decision.

“It’s a lesson to all of us and those that will come after us that Zanu-PF doesn’t belong to individuals, but to all of us and that anyone trying to make it their personal belonging will be dealt with accordingly.”

Contacted for comment, Cde Gumbo said he was not going speak on the matter since he was no longer the party spokesperson following the appointment of national chairperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo to double up as acting party spokesperson.

“Why don’t you speak to the spokesperson of the party, I am no longer the party spokesperson,” he said. “I don’t have any view on that.”

Cde Sibanda said he was not in a position to comment since he had not received any communcation from the party about his expulsion.