Osotsi wins big in ANC expulsion saga – Weekly Citizen

The unending saga surrounding the attempted deregistration from the Amani National Congress of nominated MP Godfrey Otsotsi recently took an interesting turn when the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal invalidated ANC’s move to expel the vocal lawmaker.
The win is said to have seen those in ANC fighting the nominated MP go back to the drawing board.

Osotsi

In a landmark ruling that is certain to escalate the simmering friction in ANC, the tribunal termed as illegal, unlawful, abuse of process and an infringement on the MP’s right to fair administrative action the Registrar of Political Parties’ decision to strike Osotsi’s name from the party register.
“Today the PPDT issued the twin rulings in the two cases I had filed at the tribunal ie complaint against ANC party following the purported expulsion from the party and an appeal against the decision of Registrar of Political Parties to strike my name from the party register,” said Osotsi in a statement, in a personal statement sent to newsrooms, adding: “In both cases, the tribunal found the two actions illegal, unlawful, abuse of process and an infringement of my rights to fair administrative action”.
Before the ruling, ANC and the Registrar of Political parties had unsuccessfully filed three preliminary applications at the PPDT before proceeding to the High Court for appeals that were also dismissed, paving the way for hearing and determination of the substantive case at the PPDT.

ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi

Osotsi says in the statement that his pursuit for justice had triumphed over “a sustained cocktail of evil conspiracies, witchhunt, false fabrications, intimidation and character assassination pursued by a small clique of individuals in the party close to party leader”.
The outspoken legislator says he hopes ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi will now demonstrate leadership and wisdom by bringing what he terms “this embarrassing charade” to closure.
The MP argues the fiasco in ANC had brought to light the question of independence of state institutions and their role in the democratic management of political parties.
“The actions of some officers at the office of registrar of political parties, DCI and office of the Auditor General are questionable. Why would independent state apparatus interfere in the internal political party matters?” Osotsi wondered while commending the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and Parliament “for standing firm against underhand machinations”.