ZIMBABWE - HARARE – ZANU-PF national chairman John Nkomo has landed the Vice-Presidency after winning support from six provinces that have nominated him as the ideal candidate for the vacant post.

 

In an interview yesterday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa said the nominations had gone well and in line with party procedures.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

He, however, said Midlands province which did not sit for the nominations last week had not officially communicated to him their position and thus he expected nominations from all provinces by end of this week as outlined in the guidelines.

 

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A senior party official in Matabeleland North who spoke on condition of anonymity said the province had nominated two candidates for each post — VP and chairman — because some cadres refused to go for a vote to nominate the two candidates only and decided to submit all the four names.

Attention has now been turned to the chairmanship race where a fierce tussle is now expected among senior party cadres Simon Khaya Moyo, Didymus Mutasa, Obert Mpofu and Kembo Mohadi.

However, a political analyst yesterday argued that the real race was between Mutasa and Khaya Moyo with the former counting on yet to nominate provinces.

 

He lamented failure by other provinces to nominate candidates for VP and national chairman’s posts saying this was tantamount to “match fixing” as their choices would be influenced by other provinces.

He argued that the rule was that all provinces should nominate at the same time to avoid cases of undue influenced from other provinces, as their choices were to be autonomous.

“The real battle is between Mutasa and Khaya Moyo without taking anything away from the other cadres. To me, these are the comrades who are contending for the post seriously. However, concern is around the failure by other provinces to nominate candidates to fill such posts as VP and chairman.

 

“Mutasa will obviously be counting on yet to nominate provinces especially Harare, Mash East and West and Midlands because information on the ground is that these provinces are supporting him while Khaya Moyo will keep his fingers crossed for Masvingo and Mat North to change their minds.”

In separate interviews, Amos Midzi (Harare) and Ignatius Chombo (Mash West) said they were awaiting Matabeleland region to advise them on their nominations. Midzi, who is the Zanu-PF provincial chairman for Harare, said they deferred their nominations for the two posts to allow Matabeleland region to nominate as per party guidelines.

 

“We are still waiting for official communication from our colleagues on what position to take. Matabeleland hasn’t officially communicated their position, so we will wait. “We don’t rely on unofficial information which comes through newspapers. The party has structures of communication,” Midzi said.

 

Chombo, who is the party’s provincial secretary for lands in Mashonaland West, said they were also awaiting indications from Matabeleland region before carrying out their own verifications.

He was, however, confident that they would be able to meet Saturday’s deadline when the nominations would be submitted to the party’s Secretary for Administration.

“Nothing has been officially communicated from Matabeleland as of now on whom they have nominated for the two posts.

“However, we are confident that we will complete the process within the time stipulated by the Secretary for Administration,” Chombo said.

 

Nominations for the Presidium and Central Committee members began on Saturday and full lists are expected on Saturday when the Secretary for Administration receives them from the provinces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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