AS LOBBYING for posts in Zanu PF reaches fever pitch ahead of the crunch elective congress slated for December, the party’s Mwenezi district has openly thrown its weight behind Vice-President Joice Mujuru to retain her current position in the presidium. TATENDA CHITAGU OWN CORRESPONDENT Talk has been that Mujuru would be challenged by Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa as the two jostle to strategically position themselves for the top post should President Robert Mugabe retire or is incapacitated.
Only Mugabe’s seat is secure as all provinces have already endorsed him as the preferred presidential candidate for the 2018 general elections.
Speaking at an inter-district conference held on Sunday, Zanu PF’s Mwenezi district structures said they wanted the current presidium to remain unchanged.
“Are we together as Mwenezi to say Mujuru should retain her position? Show by raising your fists. Who doesn’t want the current presidium to remain as it is? Who doesn’t want the First Lady?”
Mwenezi MP Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, who is also the Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister, asked amid wild cheers from the floor.
“The ghost of Tsholotsho should not come back to haunt us. Even if we go to congress, Mwenezi should stand its ground,” he said.
The 2005 Tsholotsho meeting was allegedly convened by some Zanu PF provincial leaders to scuttle Mujuru’s ascendancy to the presidium. Bhasikiti said Mwenezi was fully behind Mugabe and saw no reason why they should not support Mujuru.
“Mwenezi endorses Mugabe, Mujuru and Simon Khaya Moyo. That is the resolution passed by the Mwenezi inter-district conference,” he said.
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“Mujuru being the VP means all the provinces chose her and the president appointed her. So why would people think we cannot like her?
“We also echoed our support for First Lady Grace Mugabe because she is strategic and can diffuse factionalism in the party. She is a unifier catering for everyone.”
Bhasikiti said they supported the elevation of Moyo to the second vice-presidency.
“Traditionally, the national chair is elevated to the vice-presidency,” he said.
The Mwenezi meeting came a week after supporters of Mnangagwa held a rally in Gutu denouncing Mujuru.
The Zanu PF provincial executive is set to nominate their preferred candidates ahead of congress.
