The Sunday News
ZANU-PF is not obliged to choose a national chairperson who is a former member of PF-Zapu as this was not agreed upon during the signing of the Unity Accord, which saw the two parties merge in 1987, the Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Rugare Gumbo, has said.
The ruling party’s membership has of late been engaged in debates concerning the second vice-presidency and national chairperson’s positions, which are likely to be up for grabs during the party’s elective congress in December.
In an interview on Friday last week, Cde Gumbo, said in the event the party had to elect a national chairperson it was not certain that the elected member should come from former members of PF-Zapu, as this was not included in the Unity Accord.
He said since 1987 it had just been a practice that both the Vice-President and the National Chairperson come from former PF-Zapu members but the agreement only had a say on the vice-presidency.
“There is no written agreement concerning the national chairperson’s position it has just been a practice but this time around I cannot really say that the party will agree on this again, as it might not be necessarily the case because there is no written clause hence anyone can be nominated to take up that position.
“I, however, feel that former members of PF-Zapu should not feel let down or aggrieved because they are members of Zanu-PF and regardless of who takes up that position we remain as united as ever,” said Cde Gumbo.
He said historically the national chairperson position has been chosen by consensus, so a decision will only be reached during the party’s elective congress.
On the vice-president position, which needs to be filled, Cde Gumbo said only President Mugabe had the final say.
However, Zanu-PF Secretary for Education, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, said while it was not written down, it had been a known agreement that both the vice-president and the national chairperson positions were reserved for members from PF-Zapu.
He said this was the reason why when the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo took up this position he went in with the late Vice-President Cde Joseph Msika as the National Chairperson.
“Honestly there is no debate there, yes, it was not written in the agreement but it was clearly stated when we were discussing issues to do with positions. That is why Dr Joshua Nkomo went in with Cde Joseph Msika as National Chairperson. Why is the dust being raised now because I believe anyone who is a true cadre of the party knows this position. That is why in the beginning when this issue was brought up some years ago, we corrected them, now I wonder what all this debate is all about.
“As the head in Bulawayo Province I have said I will not engage in this debate and the province has also seconded this stance because everyone knows what has always happened. Right now as a party we are completing the laying of the groundwork so that nominations will start, so people should stop acting as if this is another chaotic MDC-T, we know some are being sent by others but we will not allow this to derail us,” said Dr Ndlovu.
He said Zanu-PF was a unified party and no one should try and break the unity by indirectly dismantling the Unity Accord.
“We are not debating at all, if anyone does not want the Unity Accord they should just say so because we do not want anything or anyone to destroy the unity we have, which is symbolised by the Unity Accord.
“Let us not do something that will ruin our strongest point, some have been out of order and we will have to put them back in line,” said Dr Ndlovu.
Zanu-PF National Chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, who is also the Senior Minister of State in the President’s Office, has declined to be drawn to comment on the issue although some have tipped him to land the vice-president post judging by his top position in the party hierarchy.
Politburo member Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube recently said ex-Zipra cadres should stop jostling for the vacant post as it was clear from the party’s hierarchy who would land it.
Dr Obert Mpofu, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, himself a Politburo member, is on record as saying he hoped Cde Khaya Moyo would take up the position, adding that the Matabeleland region was against factionalism.
Former Zimbabwe Ambassador to South Africa Cde Phelekezela Mphoko and ex-Zipra commander Retired Brigadier-General Ambrose Mutinhiri are largely believed to be interested in the post. If they decide that they qualify for the post, they are likely to battle it out with Cde Khaya Moyo who has refused to declare his interest but is regarded as a front-runner.
The party’s Secretary for Administration, Cde Didymus Mutasa, has previously expressed interest in being the national chairperson.
