Former President Robert Mugabe could be stripped of his constitutional privileges anytime, ZANU PF has threatened.
Speaking as a follow up to Mugabe’s statements against in which he says Mnangagwa is illegitimate, Zanu-PF stated it will have to meet soon to review the status accorded Mugabe.
Zanu-PF secretary for Legal Affairs, Paul Mangwana, is quoted by the state owned Herald in an interview that the former President risked losing Zanu-PF membership, constitutional privileges and respect for dabbling in opposition politics.
The development comes as most people by 6am voted online saying Mugabe should be left alone. SEE LIVE POLL:
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A fortnight ago, Mr Mugabe met Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri (Retired), who fronts the NPF, at his Blue Roof mansion in Borrowdale, Harare, where they discussed the formation of the party, an outfit drawing membership mainly from members of the G40 cabal.
Mangwana said the national constitution does not allow a former Head of State to dabble in active politics.
He said Zanu-PF would have to meet to consider Mr Mugabe’s legal status in light of the new development where he was involving in opposition politics and issuing statements that cast aspersions on the new dispensation led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Last week, Mr Mugabe told a selected group of local and foreign journalists that the new Government led by President Mnangagwa was illegitimate, despite the fact that he tendered a resignation ahead of an impeachment on November 21 last year.
This subsequently saw the Zanu-PF Extraordinary Congress replacing him with President Mnangagwa.
Mangwana said Mr Mugabe risked losing membership and the privileges he was enjoying.
“In the fullness of time, Zanu-PF will have to meet to discuss these new developments about the former Head of State and Government to review whether it is still necessary or not for him to continue enjoying the status we had given him,” he said.
“Ordinarily, a former President should play a father figure role and should not join active politics, particularly opposition politics.
“The party will have to decide. If the party is satisfied that he has violated that principle, he will lose his Zanu-PF membership, he will also lose privileges and immunities accorded to a person of a Head of State and forfeits the respect he was enjoying.”
Asked if Mr Mugabe was not allowed to exercise his right to freedom of association by supporting a political party of his choice, Mangwana said the Constitution had to be read holistically.
“There are no absolute rights,” he said.
“The constitution confers people rights, but the same supreme law can take away those same rights in certain circumstances. Life, for example, is a right, but the constitution provides situations where one can lose that right to life.”
Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Simon Khaya Moyo said President Mnangagwa had made a pronouncement regarding the conduct of Mr Mugabe.
“A few days ago, His Excellency President Mnangagwa was clear regarding that issue,” said Khaya Moyo, who is also acting Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services.
“I would not want to say anything given that our President has made a pronouncement.”