Zanu (PF) Disowns Legislator

“What is Mutinhiri? It is not an issue in the party. Who is Mutinhiri? There is nothing. It’s a non event for the politburo. We focused on major issues. It did not even bother us because it’s nothing. She is just an individual, an ordinary party member. She can resign if she wants,” Gumbo told the state television on Wednesday.

Gumbo’s remarks contradicted his earlier comments on Tuesday where he was also quoted by the state broadcaster, the ZBC, saying Mutinhiri faced the chop as a Zanu (PF) legislator because she wined and dined with the mainstream MDC party.

“She is going to know of her fate this week after the party’s highest decision making body politburo has met and deliberate the issue. Her association with MDC is disturbing. She is wining and dining with the MDC and has been at its functions for several times. She also went on to ban party slogans at her rallies,”Zanu (PF) Gumbo had told ZBC news Tuesday evening.

Mutinhiri’s Marondera farm was last week besieged by hordes of party supporters who sought to punish her for “selling out”.

Last week Mutinhiri accused Zanu (PF) senator for her constituency and State Security Minister Sydney Sekeramai for plotting to eliminate her. That was after hoards of war veterans had invaded her farm demanding for her resignation from the party.

She had to seek police protection from a Zanu (PF) mob which was threatening to take over her farm while beating up her workers.

Mutinhiri told Radio VOP on Sunday that she was not going to listen to ZANU (PF)’s calls for her not to work together with MDC urging that Zanu (PF) and MDC were all in the coalition government.

“I will continue working with the MDC as long as its in the same political arrangement with ZANU(PF).They  want me to boycott my ministerial event  if  they the minister who is from MDC is present. I will not do that because I want to help alleviate the lives of the people whom I have a mandate to serve. I do not want people to accuse me of letting them down all in the name of politics,’’she told Radio VOP.

She said her life was now in danger from state security agents and politically intolerant Zanu (PF) supporters.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s party this week heaped praises on Mutinhiri, describing her as a rare Zanu PF member who would not make “statements denigrating other political parties”.