Top ZANU PF bigwigs and heavyweights in Hurungwe West have rushed to support expelled legislator Temba Mliswa.
In a development that is set to embarrass Robert Mugabe and his handpicked politburo, officials who met at a function to celebrate Karambazungu Secondary School’s improved Ordinary Level pass rate on Saturday, barely 48hours after Mliswa was booted, vowed to support the motormouth MP.
Mliswa was last week expelled by the party’s highest decision making body together with his uncle Didymus Mutasa.
But instead accepting the expulsion, Mliswa at the weekend function said he had decided to go solo after being pressured by members of his constituency.
The celebrations were attended by 18 Zanu PF district chairpersons, chiefs, headmen and war veterans from the constituency.
“I’m humbled by the request to stand as an independent. I will definitely answer positively to the call. It’s quite encouraging that people still believe in my leadership regardless of some of the decisions made. I think it also exposes inwas a way that most of the decisions are not made from a consultative point of view,” Mliswa said.
“Since the people have asked me to stand as an independent, the struggle is no longer mine. It is now the people’s struggle.”
Mliswa said he sees himself bouncing back in Zanu PF one day after the current dust has settled down.
“Historically, I have always bounced back. I was once the provincial secretary for lands before I was suspended. I came back as the DCC (district co-ordinating committee) chairperson and the DCCs were dissolved, then I came back as a Member of Parliament and provincial chairperson, I am out again as the chairperson and out as MP. I will bounce back again in future this time it will be a double comeback,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Headman Modekai Marecha said: “We want Mliswa to confirm to us that he can stand for us as an independent. We are prepared to support him all the way.”
A war veteran who only identified himself as Air Marshall said freedom fighters in the constituency would do everything possible within their power to support Mliswa to finish the projects he had initiated when he was voted in 2013.
“The time to vote for imposed candidates is a thing of the past. We will not allow that anymore,” he said. Mliswa is likely to contest the Hurungwe West by-election against Dorcas Bere of Zanu PF whom he beat in the primary elections in 2013. Other contestants are likely to be MDC-T Renewal Team member and former MP of the area Severino Chambati and MDC-T’s Wilson Makanyaire. (Newsday/Additional Reporting)