ZIMBABWE - HARARE – Battle lines have been drawn between Mugabe's longtime concubine Oppah Muchinguri and Vice President Joice Mujuru over the party's second secretary post at next month’s congress .

 

This follows the emergence of a potentially pitched tussle for the Vice Presidency after one province endorsed Oppah Muchinguri’s candidature ahead of Joice Mujuru.

 

 

 

The nomination of the party’s Vice President and Second Secretary was thrown wide open after Masvingo nominated Muchinguri ahead of Vice President Mujuru.

 

 

 

 

Mujuru who is seen in Zanu-PF circles as too sympathetic to the MDC and is accused together with husband Solomon Mujuru of secretly holding meetings with the MDC, is set to be ousted from her post if hardliners in the party get their way.

 

Muchinguri who beat Mujuru backed Olivia Muchena for the party's secretary for women affairs is gaining momentum to the top.

 

The leader of the women’s league naturally gets a place in the politburo as secretary for women’s affairs. At this point Muchinguri is expected to challenge Mujuru and believe me she stands a chance,” said a Zanu PF politician.

 

Muchinguri carries the flag for the Mnangagwa faction that also has the likes of Gideon Gono and gets sympathy from outcasts like Jonathan Moyo who doubles up as a kingmaker in the faction.

 

Muchena’s role was to block Muchinguri’s rise to power so that the Mujuru faction mantains its grip on the vice presidency.

 

Muchinguri’s sudden interest for the top job has sent tongues waging and it is the primary cause of the drama to unfold at the next month's congress.

 

Meanwhile, more drama is unfolding over the nomination of Zanu-PF's national chairman at next month’s congress with four candidates now vying for the post.

 

Manicaland and Mashonaland Central at the weekend nominated current secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa for the post of national chairman.

 

Others in the race are co-Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi, Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu and Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa Simon Khaya-Moyo.

 

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This means the two VP posts could go down to the wire. It initially appeared as if VP Mujuru would have a clear run at congress as would John Nkomo for the post left vacant by Joseph Msika’s death in August.

However, a number of challengers emerged in recent weeks to contest against Nkomo while Masvingo stunned just about everyone by openly backing Muchinguri ahead of Mujuru.

Political pundits yesterday, however, contended that Muchunguri’s candidature had more or less become obvious when she did not stand for re-election as Women’s League secretary earlier this year.

A candidate requires the support of six provinces to get into the Presidium at the congress. The National People’s Congress has been provisionally set for December 8 to 13.

Nine provinces have thrown their weight behind Mugabe as their choice for President and First Secretary. Midlands deferred its nominations to Saturday citing irregularities in some of its structures.

In an interview yesterday, Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central provincial chairman Dick Mafios said the provincial co-ordinating committee had made a unanimous decision for the Presidium.

The province nominated Mugabe as President and First Secretary; Mujuru as VP and Second Secretary; and Nkomo as VP and Second Secretary.

The province backed Mutasa for the national chairmanship. “The nominations went on very well and all the people nominated into the Presidium were chosen unanimously.

“The co-ordinating committee agreed with all the candidates,” he said. Mafios said although the list of Central Committee members was not readily available the province had made its selection.

A leading Zanu-PF member in Mashonaland Central said the province had nominated Mutasa because Matabeleland appeared undecided on who to support.

“It seems the people in Matabeleland are confused and we have decided to put in our own candidate for the post,” he said.

Mashonaland Central, East and West provinces had on Saturday said they would await the results from Matabeleland to determine candidates for the Vice Presidency and national chairmanship.

 

Zanu-PF acting national commissar Richard Ndlovu yesterday acknowledged Mutasa’s nomination but said they were still waiting full reports from the 10 provinces.

“We are yet to receive full reports from the provincial chairpersons and I can only give a full comment after getting them.

 

“That (Mutasa’s nomination) is that but I can not comment further. “I am however hopeful that the issue will be rectified soon before it gets off hand,” he said.

In nominations held on Saturday, Bulawayo, Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Manicaland nominated Nkomo for the VP post.

 

Interestingly, Matabeleland North nominated Nkomo and Senate Deputy President Naison Ndlovu. The province also nominated two candidates for national chair: Mpofu and Khaya-Moyo.

Masvingo province seconded Mohadi for national chairmanship. Mashonaland East and West, and Harare indicated they would go by any decision made by the Matabeleland region on the issue of a VP to replace founding nationalist Cde Msika as well as for the post of national chairman.

 

The post of national chairman has been held by a cadre from the Matabeleland region since the 1987 Unity Accord.

However, this is not a hard and fast rule and is more of a “gentleman’s agreement” reached at the time.

 

Msika was the first national chairman after Zanu-PF and PF Zapu united before being elevated to VP in 2000 following the death of Father Zimbabwe Cde Joshua Nkomo the previous year.

 

John Nkomo took over the chairmanship. Nominations for the Presidium and Central Committee members began on Saturday and full lists are expected from most provinces starting
today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOKE OF THE DAY - An old man lived alone in Cape Town . He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, Clemence, who used to help him, was in Polsmoor Prison.

 

The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament.

 

"Dear Clemence, I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me. Love, Papa"

 

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

 

"Dear Papa, For heaven's sake, Papa, don't dig up that garden, that's where I Buried the BODIES. Love, Clemence"

 

At 4 A.M. the next morning, the Scorpion Unit, NIA agents and local police showed up and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies.

 

They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

 

"Dear Papa, Go ahead and plant the potatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances. Love Clemence.”

 

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