Msika succession: Matabeleland sticks to decision

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By GETRUDE GUMEDE

Published: October 12, 2009

ZIMBABWE – HARARE – Zimbabwean Home Affairs Co-Minister and Zanu-PF Politburo member, Kembo Mohadi on Monday said the party leadership in Matabeleland region stands by its decision that the selection of a vice-president be done by the party’s 10 provinces.

“What was reported in the media on Saturday is the right position. It remains like that,” said Mohadi.

Meeting in Bulawayo on Friday last week, the leadership referred back to the Politburo the matter of the selection of candidates to fill the vacancy left after the death of Cde Joseph Msika in August.

They said PF-Zapu was a national not regional party before it signed the Unity Accord with Zanu-PF in December 1987.

The leadership said the party’s 10 provinces must select the candidate for the post noting that limiting the selection to Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South provinces belittled PF-Zapu.

But on Sunday, the party’s national secretary for admnistration, Didymus Mutasa said to the deadline imposed recently that the three provinces select the candidate by tomorrow, remained unchanged.

He said the Politburo would select a candidate for nomination if the party’s three provinces – Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South – disagreed on one candidate. He said if they selected more than one person, the Politburo would nominate one using its own discretion, based on seniority.

If selected, the candidate would have to secure the support of six party provinces.

The Politburo party’s supreme decision-making organ between congresses had early this month, given the region until tomorrow to select a candidate to take up the posts of Vice-President and Second Secretary of the party.

Andrew Langa, Zanu-PF chairman for Matabeleland South said his province was awaiting official communication from the Politburo on how to proceed.

“As Matabeleland South, we will not proceed until Politburo directs us again,” he said.
“The Acting National Commissar spoke to us giving us direction last week and we did as directed. Until we get communication again, we will not proceed.”

Asked if it was possible for his province to restart the selection process and meet tomorrow’s deadline after it was stopped last week, Langa said he does not have other meetings in mind apart from the routine gatherings lined up from Friday.

Bulawayo province had early last week already unanimously endorsed national chairman, John Nkomo while three cadres from Matabeleland South had reportedly shown interest in the vice-presidency.
Nkomo declined to comment on the issue yesterday.

“As you say that my name has been thrown around, I cannot comment I am a subject in this discussion,” he said.

Meanwhile, the war veterans leadership in Matabeleland South has called on Zanu-PF members to come out in the open if they are interested in assuming the Vice President’s post rather than fuelling factionalism clandestinely.

War veterans’ leader Jabulani Phetshu, said it was disheartening that senior Zanu-PF members were causing confusion by jostling for the VP’s post yet the party had a clear policy.

He said those who are interested in the post should move out from their closets.
Cde Phetshu said apart from the VP’s post, central committee and Politburo members were reportedly jostling for the national chairman’s office.

He however emphasised that the chairman’s post could be vacant if the incumbent Cde Nkomo becomes Vice-President.

“According to the 22 December 1987 Unity Accord that was signed by Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu, its clear that a senior person from former PF-Zapu should take over as Vice-President if the incumbent dies. In that context, Nkomo is the next VP and there shouldn’t be debate about that,” said Phetshu.

“Therefore, as war veterans and in my personal opinion, we urge party members interested in the VP and national chairman’s post to come out in the open and declare their interests.”

He added that in accordance with the Unity Accord protocol, no one should challenge Nkomo as VP because he has been in the Presidium for the past 10 years.

“Nkomo has all the experience and he has worked hard as the party chairman. Why should people not give him the respect he deserves, instead of jostling for the VP’s post, we should actually say we all rally behind Nkomo,” said Phetshu.

“Nkomo is like the first car at a roundabout, he should be given way to go through.”

He urged party cadres in Matabeleland South to bury their differences and work towards strengthening Zanu-PF.-The Zimbabwe Telegraph