Zanu-PF bans chairmen for 5yrs
04/01/2005 14:11  - (SA)  

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Zimbabwe Special Report  Latest Zimbabwe Stories

Harare - After initially banning six provincial chairmen from party positions for six months for holding an unauthorised meeting, Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party on Monday extended the ban to five years.

An "unsanctioned meeting" held in the western district of Tsholotsho sparked the move, which comes less than three months before parliamentary elections.

Zanu-PF national chairman John Nkomo confirmed the banning on Tuesday, saying, "The six chairpersons have been further suspended for a further five years following disciplinary hearings into their conduct".

The meeting, allegedly to discuss nominations for a new vice-president, drew the ire of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

Many of the delegates, who flew to the Matabeleland district in a quasi-government organisation's aeroplane, have since fallen foul of the 81-year-old leader.

Over the weekend, three ministers, among them controversial information minister Jonathan Moyo, learnt they would not be allowed to stand in Zanu-PF primary elections ahead of the March poll.

'Spying for foreign power'

Moyo is alleged to have organised the meeting, sparking anger in the ruling party's "old guard".

Also falling under the wrath of Mugabe was justice minister Patrick Chinamasa and finance minister Chris Kureneri, currently in prison and awaiting charges of misusing foreign currency.

Also barred from standing for election is reputed Mugabe relative and flamboyant lawmaker Phillip Chiyangwa.

Chiyangwa, whose palatial Harare home boasts a helicopter-landing pad, is also in police custody after being arrested on espionage charges, allegedly after spying for a "foreign power."

Among the so-called Mafikilozos (meaning new comers) who have fallen from Mugabe's grace are war veteran leader Jabulani Sibanda and Zanu-PF MP and former journalist Kindness Paradza.

Elliot Manyika, head of Zanu-PF's electorate directorate said meanwhile, Zanu-PF said it would "soon meet" to vet names of aspiring candidates in primary elections. He said one third of all candidates would be women.

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