Goche faces Zanu PF axe

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The Zanu PF axe is expected to fall on more loyalists of ousted former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, among them ex-Zanu PF Politburo member and Cabinet minister, Nicholas Goche.

The Zanu PF axe is expected to fall on more loyalists of ousted former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, among them ex-Zanu PF Politburo member and Cabinet minister, Nicholas Goche.

BY our staff

Goche is accused of masterminding the alleged plot to oust President Robert Mugabe. Goche’s fate was discussed at a Mashonaland Central provincial coordinating committee meeting in Bindura yesterday.

Zanu PF Mashonaland Central chairman Dickson Mafios said a decision was reached to recommend the firing of a top Mujuru ally and MP for Mbire, David Butau who was accused of working against the party and of being divisive. Mafios told The Standard yesterday that Goche was being closely monitored and a decision on his future would soon be made.

“There is also Butau, our Mbire MP. He has been defying party directives and is still holding on to Gamatox tendencies. The decision taken by the executive was to propose for his expulsion from Zanu PF and to have him recalled from Parliament,” said Mafios.

“He distributed motor bikes to party chairmen in a manner that is tantamount to dividing the party. He has several other cases of undermining the party leadership and buying vehicles for ousted former war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda who was expelled by the Politburo.”

He added: “Why should we keep Butau when Mujuru and [Jabulani] Sibanda were expelled from the party? That is our recommendation.”

Mafios said those known to have been loyal to Mujuru should prove that they have reformed or else they will be booted out.

“We know they are people who were close to Mujuru. Those who want to work with the party must be loyal and follow the party constitution and our leader President Robert Mugabe. They must reform and co-operate and work together with others. We know them and they are on the line because we can’t work with enemies,” he said.

On Goche, Mafios said: “I can’t say he has reformed. It’s not practical to see whether someone has reformed by just looking at him. We can only see by the conduct and participation in party programmes. We can’t say he has reformed, we are finalising and keeping an eye [on him].”

Goche fell out of favour with Mugabe after claims were made and repeated by Mugabe himself that he was leading efforts to oust him. He was then expelled from government together with several other ministers aligned to Mujuru. A purge against pro-Mujuru officials is still on in several provinces, with Harare recommending the expulsion of at least 25 officials of the ousted provincial executive. Goche and Butau could not be reached for comment yesterday.