Harare, April 3 (IANS): Zimbabwe's ruling party has expelled former vice president Joice Mujuru following several allegations against her, including plotting to topple President Robert Mugabe.
Mujuru becomes the highest ranking Zanu-PF official to be expelled from the party since independence in 1980.
The party announced Mujuru's expulsion after a politburo meeting which ended on Thursday night, Xinhua news agency reported.
"The politburo today resolved to expel Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru from Zanu-PF after receiving a detailed report from the National Disciplinary Committee chaired by Vice President (Phelekezela) Mphoko," party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said.
He said Mujuru had been expelled from the party, which she joined prior to Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, for plotting to unconstitutionally remove Mugabe from power, undermining party leadership, fanning factionalism, engaging in corruption and criminal abuse of office, among other charges.
Mujuru, who lost the vice presidency in December last year after being accused of the charges by First Lady Grace Mugabe, joins several other senior party officials who have been booted out of the party.
These include former secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa, former spokesperson Rugare Gumbo and former war veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda.
Khaya Moyo said the decision to expel Mujuru was reached after a disciplinary committee chaired by Vice President Mphoko presented its report to the politburo detailing various charges against Mujuru.
He said, according to the report, Mujuru began working against the party's interests and President Mugabe together with her late husband General Solomon Mujuru ever since she was elected vice president in 2004.
"The politburo felt that she lacked the quality of strong moral principles, honesty and decency and therefore ceases to be a member of Zanu-PF from today," Khaya Moyo said.
Before becoming vice president in 2004, Mujuru had previously served as a government minister for years beginning at independence in 1980 when she was the youngest cabinet minister at 24 years.
She also served as vice president of Zanu-PF since 2004 until her demotion last December to an ordinary card carrying member in the wake of the allegations.