A STORM is brewing within the ruling Zanu PF party’s Mashonaland West province after its national leadership exposed serious procedural violations in the controversial removal of a provincial executive.
The intervention by party headquarters has effectively nullified the decision to remove the provincial secretary for administration, Misheck Nyarubero and directed the provincial leadership to follow disciplinary procedures as outlined in the party constitution.
In a letter dated February 17 this year, Zanu PF secretary-general Jacob Mudenda advised provincial chairperson Mary Mliswa-Chikoka that the removal of Nyarubero was not procedural.
Nyarubero was removed from his position during a recent reshuffle of the provincial executive council (PEC) in the province.
According to Mudenda, minutes of a PEC meeting held on November 7 last year and a provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting of November 16 presented conflicting accounts of the allegations against Nyarubero.
The PEC minutes accused him of “repeated lapses and inconsistencies” that allegedly created a security threat to the provincial chairperson.
The PCC minutes, however, indicated that his offence was allegedly writing to party headquarters without the chairperson’s knowledge.
Mudenda said procedure provided for in the 2022 party constitution were not followed.
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According to provisions of sections 105 and 115 of the party constitution, neither the PEC nor the PCC has the authority to discipline an elected official.
“In terms of sections 105 and 115, the PCC and PEC do not have the power to discipline an elected member,” the letter read.
“Instead, such cases must be referred to the provincial disciplinary committee in terms of section 526.”
Mudenda also stressed that Nyarubero, as an elected official, could not be removed from office without following the formal disciplinary process outlined under chapter 5, article 37 of the party’s code of conduct.
“To act otherwise is akin to the abolished vote of no confidence procedure,” he said.
Mudenda advised the provincial leadership to take remedial action in line with the party constitution and submit relevant disciplinary records to party headquarters.
The letter said the status quo before the disputed reshuffle would remain in place without prejudice to Nyarubero.
“As such, you are advised to take remedial action in terms of the party constitution,” he said.
Zanu PF members are anxiously waiting for the outcome of a board of inquiry into allegations of embezzlement, insubordination and incompetence within the Mashonaland West provincial structures.
The board of inquiry was set up late last year following complaints from party members.
