HARARE – Zanu PF expelled Chivi South MP Killer Zivhu on Wednesday following a process which began last August, when he was accused of violating party rules through social media posts which were deemed inconsistent with party policy.

Zivhu said he would “remain a Zanu PF member by heart” and support party leader, President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“I will not stand as independent whatever comes. I love Zanu PF, the people in my constituency will forever cherish my work,” Zivhu said.

The businessman blames his political misfortunes on an unnamed member of the Zanu PF Politburo, which took the decision to expel him during its meeting in Harare.

“My effort to recover US$1.5 million from the most powerful Politburo member got me expelled,” he wrote on Twitter. “I reported him to ZACC (Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission) and I was about to give them evidence. The man was so vicious in the Politburo meeting today to make sure I got expelled.”

Zivhu hung up when our correspondent called for a clarification. Two sources told ZimLive that Zivhu was referring to Zanu PF’s secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu.

Zivhu fell foul of party rules in August last year when, in a series of tweets, he suggested that Zimbabwe’s political and economic crisis could be resolved by a meeting between Mnangagwa and opposition rival, Nelson Chamisa.

To prepare for that meeting, Zivhu said, an earlier meeting between Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxillia, and Chamisa’s wife, Sithokozile, should take place.

Zivhu said he was ready to collect signatures from Zimbabweans to show that there was clamour for such a political dialogue.

Chamisa has refused to recognise Mnangagwa as president, accusing the 77-year-old of rigging his way to power in a closely fought election in July 2018.

The MDC Alliance leader has also snubbed a political dialogue platform set up by Mnangagwa, in which the Zanu PF leader regularly meets with leaders of smaller opposition parties that he defeated in 2018.

Zanu PF accused Zivhu of going against a party principle that dialogue with Chamisa could only take place under the platform created by Mnangagwa.

When internal charges were brought against him by the Zanu PF provincial executive in Masvingo, Zivhu refused to attend a disciplinary hearing. The provincial party then sent the matter to the Politburo’s disciplinary committee with a recommendation for his expulsion, which was confirmed on Wednesday.

Zivhu is a former chairman of an association of cross border traders. He currently owns a company which produces sanitary pads.