Mpofu backs SK Moyo

Politics
ZANU PF politburo member and Transport minister Obert Mpofu is rallying behind the ruling party’s national chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo to take up the second vice-president post.

ZANU PF politburo member and Transport minister Obert Mpofu is rallying behind the ruling party’s national chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo to take up the second vice-president post. NDUDUZO TSHUMA STAFF REPORTER

The post became vacant following the death of John Nkomo last year and will be filled at the Zanu PF congress in December.

Addressing a two-day induction workshop for the Zanu PF Matabeleland North provincial executive at Elangeni Training Centre in Bulawayo at the weekend, Mpofu said he hoped Khaya Moyo would take up the post.

Mpofu’s sentiments indicated that he and Khaya Moyo, who was the guest of honour and gave a keynote address at the workshop, had smoked the peace pipe after reportedly clashing at a politburo meeting in front of President Robert Mugabe in 2012.

Mpofu said the Matabeleland region was not in support of factionalism in Zanu PF as they were not interested in the presidency of the ruling party.

He said the region was aware of the party’s protocols and procedures and would rather concentrate on what they could achieve, the vice-presidency.

“The best we can do is to land the second vice-president’s post and we are hoping that maybe Khaya Moyo will land that position,” Mpofu said turning to Khaya Moyo, who responded with a chuckle.

“We sat down with Khaya Moyo and said let us look at what we can achieve. We are not concerned about things that are beyond us. Why should we be bothered?”

Mpofu said even during the liberation war, after training as fighters, they were given commanders to lead them and they never questioned leadership, but simply obeyed.

Khaya Moyo yesterday declined to comment on Mpofu’s pronouncements when reached for comment.

Before his weekend statement, Mpofu had been considered as a dark horse in the race to fill the vacant vice-presidency although Khaya Moyo, by virtue of his position in the party hierarchy, was always the front runner.