Zimbabwe parliament expels allies of former president Mugabe

HARARE, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's National Assembly on Tuesday expelled five legislators that were closely allied to former President Robert Mugabe.

The expulsions came after the ruling ZANU-PF party notified the august house that the politicians no longer represented the interests of the party.

This came after the party expelled its national political commissar and former Local Government Minister Savior Kasukuwere, Tsholotsho North legislator who was also Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Jonathan Moyo, party secretary for administration who was also Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo, party secretary for youth affairs Kudzanai Chipanga and former Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Mandi Chimene, among other big wigs for various offences including dividing the party along factional lines.

Deputy speaker of the National Assembly Mabel Chinomona said the seats occupied by the five politicians were now vacant.

"Pursuant to the above, I hereby inform this August House that vacancies have arisen in the following constituencies by operation of the law - Makoni South (Chimene), Makoni West ( Chipanga), Tsholotsho North (Professor Moyo), Zvimba North (Chombo) and Mt Darwin North (Kasukuwere).

"The necessary administrative measures will be taken to inform His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of the existence of the vacancies in line with section 39 (1) of the Electoral Act chapter 218 as amended," she said.

President Mnangagwa took over last Friday from former president Mugabe who resigned on Nov. 21 following military and public pressure, ending his 37 year stay in power. Enditem