Zanu PF to decide on VP, chairperson

Politics
ZANU PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo yesterday said the party is yet to discuss and agree on guidelines to be followed by provinces in nominating their preferred candidates to fill the positions of second vice-president and national chairperson.

ZANU PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo yesterday said the party is yet to discuss and agree on guidelines to be followed by provinces in nominating their preferred candidates to fill the positions of second vice-president and national chairperson.

NQOBANI NDLOVU STAFF REPORTER

Gumbo said the party would unveil such guidelines after the supreme decision-making body outside congress, the politburo, meets tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s politburo meeting is likely to be a crunch gathering as there is currently no consensus as to who should occupy the two presidium positions.

“The politburo will meet to come up with a position and guidelines to be followed when choosing the VP and the national chairperson,” Gumbo said.

“For now, there is no position because this has not been on the agenda in our politburo meetings.”

Gumbo said people interested in the two posts should wait for the guidelines to be set out before campaigning.

“As I have indicated, the guidelines have not been set out and in the spirit of unity and harmony in the party, it will not be proper for party members to launch campaigns denouncing each other in the media,” he said.

“The party has rules and regulations and disciplined members should wait for the guidelines.”

Current national chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo looked like an automatic candidate to ascend to the second vice-presidency, but some of his ex-Zapu colleagues — Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu, Phelekezela Mphoko, Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi and Ambrose Mutinhiri — have all expressed interest in the post saying they were more senior.

Others say the precedence that was set from 1987 when the Unity Accord was signed must be followed that ex-Zapu members occupy the second vice-presidency and national chair posts.

However, politburo member and Information minister Jonathan Moyo believes that the post of chairperson must be an open contest as the Unity Accord was silent about it.

Ndlovu is arguing that if proper procedures are followed, he should be elevated to the VP post due to his seniority as an ex-Zapu member.

War veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda has been touted as a candidate for the chairperson’s position by some ex-Zapu members in Matabeleland.