Minister suspended over MDC-T links

Sunday, 14 August 2011 18:47

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE DEPUTY Labour and Social Welfare minister Tracy Mutinhiri was yesterday suspended from Zanu PF after she was found guilty of working against the party. Mutinhiri, who is also the Marondera East MP, had been hauled before a provincial disciplinary committee following complaints that she was working with MDC-T. She was barred from participating in Zanu PF activites or holding any post in the party for the next five years. Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo confirmed the suspension but said he could not comment on the matter because he had not been fully briefed. “I am out in the rural areas. Yes, I have heard about her suspension but I am yet to see the official suspension letter,” he said. “I have only heard about it on the phone from people who called me. I am sure I will get the suspension letter once I get into the office. “However, we are going to adopt the recommendations of the province since usually they are the ones with her there.” Mutinhiri confirmed her suspension: “I have not read the letter yet as it was delivered at my office around 4:30 pm,” she said. “Once I have read it, I will appeal to the national disciplinary committee.” She was also accused of voting for MDC-T chairman Lovemore Moyo in the March elections for Speaker of Parliament. Zanu PF had fielded its own chairman Simon Khaya-Moyo, who lost to the MDC-T chairman. After she was accused of voting for the wrong candidate in an election where a secret ballot was used, she claimed that she had received death threats from Zanu PF activists. Zanu PF claimed that it knew the identities of its MPs who had voted for the MDC-T candidate. Mugabe lashed out at the MPs in public, but never mentioned them by name. Last month Zanu PF activists invaded Mutinhiri’s farm in Marondera but they were later ordered to leave by party officials. She later claimed State Security minister Sydney Sekeremayi was behind the invasion because he wanted to replace her with Zanu PF’s provincial secretary for security, Lawrence Katsiru. Sekeremayi is the senator for the area. The minister, who now risks losing her parliamentary seat and ministerial post, is the former wife of former Youth minister, Retired Brigadier Ambrose Mutinhiri.