The ruling Zanu PF party on Thursday night expelled seven more members bringing the number of those cut loose to more than 10.
The expulsions were spiced up by even more suspensions in what appears to be a continuation of the scramble to succeed Mugabe.
Those shown the exit door in the latest wave of purges include former ministers, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, Dzikamai Mavhaire and Olivia Muchena as well as provincial bigwigs, Ray Kaukonde, David Butau, Claudius Makova and Kudakwashe Gopo.
According to party information secretary Simon Khaya-Moyo, the politburo also decided to suspend former transport minister Nicholas Goche, Amos Midzi, Tendai Savanhu, Jaison Machaya, Kalisto Gwanetsa, Noah Mangondo and Munacho Mutezo among others for five years.
They are accused of being part of a group of leaders under the direction of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, who sought to depose President Robert Mugabe violently including through an assassination attempt with assistance from western countries.
Mujuru has denied all the charges levelled against her, although she as expelled from the party without being given a chance to defend herself.
The former Vice-President was expelled along with then secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa, spokesperson Rugare Gumbo and ex-war veterans’ chief, Jabulani Sibanda in a brutal purge that preceded Zanu PF’s December 2014 congress.
Khaya Moyo told journalists after the meeting that those suspended would remain ordinary members of the party. “The politburo resolved to expel the comrades for fanning factionalism, causing division in the party and acting in a way that is contrary to the party principles,” he said.
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“All these people who have been suspended remain ordinary party card-carrying members, including those who are MPs. “We must not think that those who have been suspended are no longer members of the party.
“They are just not allowed to hold positions within the period of suspensions,” said the Zanu PF information chief. The fight for Mugabe’s job has of late turned nasty as factions headed by Mujuru on one hand and another by her successor Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa went head to head amid political mudslinging and finger-pointing. Khaya Moyo said more leaders will be suspended in the coming days.
