Khaya-Moyo not guaranteed to deputise Mugabe

Successive pronouncements by former-PF Zapu heavies that "no one is assured" of a post under an arrangement with Zanu-PF means party chairman Simon Khaya-Moyo is not guaranteed of the Zanu-PF deputy presidency.

While the ex-Zimbabwean ambassador to South Africa has had his fair share of supporters, among them former minister Cephas Msipa, retired colonel Tshinga Dube and Sports minister Andrew Langa, party stalwarts including George Mlala, Obert Mpofu and Sikhanyiso Ndlovu have insisted that the process of appointing the vice presidency and national chairmanship posts must be fully democratised.

Apart from lobbying for people like Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi, retired general Ambrose Mutinhiri and Phelekezela Mphoko, those opposed to Khaya-Moyo's uncontested march say the ex-envoy was also "way too junior" to the above-named trio in terms of the-PF Zapu line of command and hierarchy.

"If any of the remaining few commanders like Mphoko and Mutinhiri are interested in the position, then let them contest. When Mphoko left the country, it was after…-PF Zapu had
identified him (as) a good soldier… (and) has the credentials to become vice president," Mlala said recently.

"During the liberation struggle, he was... responsible for logistics (and) that is a crucial position, which involved sourcing (of) arms, it's not like being a storekeeper. After
independence, he (took) various diplomatic positions and thereby learning a lot about governance, which qualifies him to be vice president," he added.

Even though he has flip-flopped over the issue amid a strong push for Khaya-Moyo to land the post of VP, Transport minister Mpofu has been more scathing.

"We can't use an undemocratic precedence to stifle people's choices. A democratic process has to be followed to allow anyone to be voted into the position," the Matabeleland North political heavyweight told a local daily on the sidelines of an Umguza agricultural show recently.

On the other hand, former Information minister and educationist Ndlovu, said: "In Zapu, we know that people are nominated. You do not go about saying, I want this position and even… where people have been saying I want so and so for that position it's unprocedural since the nomination process has not been opened. Those who are talking about their choices are putting the people they want in those positions in a difficult situation. You also can't have people going to the press tipping themselves for positions or saying they are front runners."

Crucially, the Zimbabwe Distance Education College founder said people must not "tribalise and regionalise" the matter, and debate since-PF Zapu was non-tribal and truly national.

Although Mphoko, Mohadi and Mutinhiri have been cagey about their plans, there has been a strong lobby for their entry into the race - based on seniority - and as President Robert Mugabe's party hurtles towards its December elective congress.

"If the principle of seniority was really to be applied, you will find that people like Mohadi are very much in the race. As an intelligence officer, you will know that the Beitbridge East member of parliament was only second to Mphoko and, of course, Mutinhiri who was Joshua Nkomo's military commander," said a party insider.

"Unlike Khaya-Moyo, who was essentially the big man's personal assistant, the likes of Mohadi could have an edge not only based on their war credentials, but government and Cabinet experience," they said, adding if a strict moral code was applied, the incumbent chairman would fall by the wayside after his controversial marriage to Margaret Mhambi — the ex-wife of former defence attaché to Tanzania Richard Ngwenya.

"As you might have heard from the president's address at the just-ended Women's League conference on Thursday, integrity is a key issue in leadership and he (Mugabe) came out strongly against marriage wreckers, and serial casanovas."

While the Home Affairs boss had earlier denied interest in the VP post in an interview with the Daily News, he recently told another local daily that: "I cannot say I am not interested, but the decision comes from the people, if they select me then its fine."

Further: "Zanu-PF is a democratic party and the people will decide. I know a lot of people have been saying a lot… about this matter, but it doesn't work. The congress will decide on who takes up the post, what is true is that there is a vacancy," Mohadi said.

On the other hand, Muntihiri says he is still consulting on whether he may accept nomination for any of the two posts.