Vice President nomination:war veterans castigated

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By GETRUDE GUMEDE

Published: October 14, 2009

ZIMBABWE – BULAWAYO – The debate surrounding the selection of a candidate to succeed the late nationalist and National Hero, Cde Joseph Msika, deepened yesterday with a war veteran’s leader in Bulawayo saying ex-fighters had no role in the process.

The war veterans’ political commissar for the Bulawayo and Zanu-PF Bulawayo Province Deputy Secretary for Indigenisation, George Mlala, said the former freedom fighters had no business in the nomination of the Vice-President, as they were not party of the revolutionary party’s structures.

Mlala was responding to remarks by the Bulawayo war veterans chairman, Themba Ncube, and some members of his executive who on Tuesday said they wanted the country’s Ambassador to South Africa, Simon Khaya Moyo, to succeed the late VP Msika who died in August.

They also put forward the names of Deputy President of the Senate and former PF-Zapu chairman, Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu, and Politburo member Retired Brigadier-General Ambrose Mutinhiri.

Rtd Brig-General Mutinhiri was Chief of Staff of Zipra, the military wing of Zapu.

“First and foremost, war veterans are an affiliate of the party and an association meaning that they do not have the jurisdiction to nominate candidates for any position let alone that of the Vice-President,” said Mlala.

“Zanu-PF has its structures and the war veterans have theirs, you would never see the party leadership giving war veterans orders on whom they should choose whenever positions arise in their structures.”

He said the remarks made by Ncube and those who attended his Press briefing were misleading and should be condemned.

“What they said only represents their individual feelings and aspirations and not that of the entire war veterans family,” said Mlala.

“Thus the statement should be condemned with the contempt it deserves as they are only misleading people into thinking that everyone can say whatever they want concerning the nomination process because Zanu-PF is a principled party that is guided by its constitution.”

Mlala also took a swipe at Khaya Moyo for failing to “whip” the ex-freedom fighters into “line”

“I am surprised that SK Moyo condoned that statement by responding to his ‘nomination’ because he is a senior member of the party and knows quite well the procedures and protocols that govern the party,” he said.

Mlala said it was saddening to note that some people who deserted the armed struggle were the most vocal.

“If they continue with their wayward behaviour we are going to name and shame them. Although I was elected into the war veterans structures, it is now embarrassing for one to continue saying he is a leader of the ex-fighters because the term ended two years ago.

Themba and his people should make noise about the holding of a war veterans congress.”

The nomination of the Vice-President has over the past few days heated up with Matabeleland South becoming the second province to back John Nkomo for the post after Bulawayo unanimously endorsed him.

Matabeleland North province has not yet stated its position amid speculation that a senior member from the province is also interested in the position.

Early this week, Zanu-PF National Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa gave the three Matabeleland provinces a deadline, which elapsed yesterday, to nominate a candidate to succeed Msika.

However, Politburo and Central Committee members from the three provinces met in Bulawayo last week and agreed that the party’s 10 provinces must select Msika’s successor.-The Zimbabwe Telegraph