Jabulani Sibanda eyeing Zanu-PF chairmanship

WAR veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda has hinted that he is eyeing the Zanu-PF national chairmanship but was quick to add that the decision would come from the people as no leader should impose themselves.

Should he ultimately go for the post, Sibanda is likely to battle it out with Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa who has already thrown his hat into the ring.

Contacted for comment, Sibanda said, "What the people want, the people come first, that is the Zanu- PF slogan and my slogan. That is my answer to you."

Pressed on whether that meant he was interested in the post, Sibanda said when people want something, they mobilise on it.

Sibanda said this some hours after addressing a meeting in Gwanda that was attended by Matabeleland South Cdes Gibson Msipa and Jabulani Phetshu Sibanda who later told Chronicle that the war veterans' leader should be elevated to the post of Zanu-PF national chairman at the party's elective congress in December.

However, Sibanda said in a democracy one must not force people to vote for him or her.

"You do not have to have money to buy people or corrupt to be a leader," said Sibanda.

"In leadership, money can make you rich but not a leader. The people will come first."

Sibanda said presently the party faced its greatest threat not from MDCs or former colonisers but from members within the party who were working against the revolution.

"The revolution is the crown of the party. People have spoken to me (about the matter). It does not matter what I did for the party. My answer is if you have an idea, you take it to other people.

"A lot of people have spoken to me about that and yes Zanu-PF has never been short of a national chairperson. We have one now who is in transition and there are millions of Zanu-PF supporters who can be national chairman," said Sibanda.

Phetshu said the war veterans' leader qualified to be national chairman considering the amount of work he put in campaigning for Zanu-PF in the run up to the elections last year.

He said no one from the senior party leaders from PF Zapu had indicated interest in the post making way for Sibanda to take up the post.

"It appears our leaders are more confident in contesting the VP position than that of national chairman. We know that precedence has to be followed but no one has so far indicated interest in the position of national chairman," said Phetshu Sibanda who is also Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial member.

"Since Jabulani Sibanda visited all provinces campaigning for the party in the run up to last year's elections, we really feel there is nothing wrong with him taking up the post of national chairman. People on the ground are already talking about it; some have went on to approach him."

Msipa reiterated that Sibanda had played an instrumental role in the landslide victory by Zanu-PF in the last elections making him a good candidate for the post.

So far, Zanu-PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo, considered a front runner in the race, Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi, former Zimbabwean Ambassador to South Africa Phelekezela Mphoko are set to contest for the VP post.

Former Zipra chief of Staff Ambrose Mutinhiri and Zanu-PF politburo member Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu said they were still consulting on whether or not to contest the post.