Mzembi Readmission Bid Stalls Over Social Media Posts
By Staff Reporter
MASVINGO- Former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi’s bid to rejoin ZANU PF has stalled after the party’s Masvingo provincial leadership summoned him to explain social media posts it says were critical of the ruling party.
Mzembi, the former Masvingo South legislator and Tourism Minister, did not appear before the provincial executive council when he was summoned, according to Masvingo provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa. Mavhenyengwa said the provincial leadership wanted Mzembi to respond to posts attributed to him before deciding whether to recommend his readmission.
“We had summoned him to appear before the party provincial executive council meeting where we wanted him to explain himself over some social media posts attributed to him that were critical of the party,” Mavhenyengwa said. He said Mzembi did not attend because the party secretariat had reportedly failed to reach him, but the provincial leadership expected him to appear at its next meeting.
Mzembi was expelled from ZANU PF in 2017 during the factional succession battles that culminated in the removal of former President Robert Mugabe. He was associated with the G40 faction, while the rival faction supporting then Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa ultimately took control of the party. Mzembi subsequently left Zimbabwe and remained outside the country for several years. He applied to rejoin ZANU PF this year after returning to Zimbabwe.
Mavhenyengwa said the provincial executive council had encountered the social-media issue while considering the application. “He applied to rejoin the party, and during deliberations to determine his application it emerged that he was posting some undesirable social media messages, so we resolved to have him come and explain himself, and we will wait for him,” he said.
The provincial chairperson also dismissed claims circulating on social media that Mzembi had already been cleared to return to the party. “We only resolved to recommend the readmission of Cde Kudakwashe Gopo of Bikita, but with Mzembi we are not done yet,” Mavhenyengwa said. Mzembi’s return to ZANU PF would therefore require further consideration at provincial level before any recommendation is made to the party’s national leadership.
According to Mavhenyengwa, even if the Masvingo provincial leadership approves his application, the final formalisation of his readmission would require a recommendation to the national leadership. The development leaves Mzembi’s application unresolved, with the provincial executive council expected to revisit the matter after he has been given an opportunity to respond to the concerns raised over his social-media activity.
Walter Mzembi ZANU PF readmission
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