afrol News, 12 February - Simba Makoni, an expelled executive of the ruling Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe would remain expelled whether he has filed his nomination papers on or before Friday, the party's Spokesman, Nathan Shamuyarira, said.

"It's about his [Makoni's] attitude to the party and to the President, which he has shown and he is being expelled for that," Shamuyarira told a news conference in Harare on Tuesday.

"He is expelled. It is not about filing the nomination paper. He can be expelled for a very long time. There are people who have been expelled for a very long time and some of them have been re-expelled."

Dr Makoni - a former Finance Minister - was expelled after he had publicly declared to run against President Mugabe on 29 March polls. Mugabe, 83, is seeking a sixth term in office.

The expelled politician maintained his loyalty to Zanu-PF and would want to run under its colours, despite running on an independent ticket.

Makoni said he had got the backing of several Zanu-PF members. But Shamuyarira said Zanu-PF would not hesitate to expel any member that follows Makoni's footsteps. He said the party is yet to get the names of Makoni's followers.

"We want to make that expulsion very clear because it is either you support the party or you don't. If you don't support the party then you are excluded," he stressed.

Dr Makoni had earlier rebuffed his expulsion and allegations that he is a stooge of western governments.

He said it was rather unfortunate that his announcement was greeted by misrepresentations.

"The first misrepresentation is that this is an externally-induced move by hostile western governments," he said.

"I am saddened by our lack of ability to handle diversity of ideas and views. I am saddened by the fact that we characterise any different ideas from ours and their holders as antagonistic and foreign."

He said as a "gunuine and honest" person, he is "nobody's tool or agent."

By staff writer

© afrol News

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