Antony Chawagarira
MASVINGO – Former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi’s bid to rejoin Zanu-PF remains unresolved after the party’s Masvingo provincial executive summoned him to explain social media posts that were allegedly critical of the ruling party.
Mzembi, who was expelled from Zanu-PF in 2017, applied for readmission this year. However, the provincial leadership has deferred a decision on his application pending further engagements.
Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa said Mzembi had been expected to appear before the provincial executive council but failed to attend the meeting.
“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,” said Mavhenyengwa.
He said the former Masvingo South legislator’s absence was due to difficulties in reaching him and added that the party hoped he would attend the next provincial executive council meeting.
“He applied to rejoin the party, and during deliberations on his application, it emerged that he had posted some undesirable social media messages. We therefore resolved to have him come and explain himself, and we will wait for him,” said Mavhenyengwa.
Mzembi previously served as Tourism Minister and was a senior Zanu-PF figure in Masvingo before his expulsion in 2017.
Mavhenyengwa also dismissed circulating social media reports suggesting that Mzembi has already been cleared to rejoin the party.
“We only resolved to recommend the readmission of Cde Kudakwashe Gopo of Bikita. As for Mr. Mzembi, we are not done yet,” he said.
If the provincial leadership approves Mzembi’s application, the recommendation will be forwarded to the party’s national leadership for consideration before his readmission is formalised.
