'Mugabe succession debate a non-event,' says Gumbo

The Zanu-PF elective congress set for this year will, among other things, endorse President Mugabe's candidature for the next five years unless the First Secretary and President chooses to step aside.

Vice President Joice Mujuru would retain her position both in Government and the party after President Mugabe indicated that he wanted her in those briefs.

Although much has been said about succession and the coming Congress, Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, told The Herald yesterday that it was the party's policy to support the incumbent President.

He said empirically, the succession debate being played up in the media was a non-event as long as the party's First Secretary and President had not expressed his interest to step down.

"There is no one who is going to challenge the President because it is the party's policy to support the sitting President unless he says he wants to rest," he said.

"Again President Mugabe is such a towering figure in the party that no small guy can seek to challenge him. I do not see Vice President Joice Mujuru being challenged as well because the President said he was happy with her both in Government and in the party."

Gumbo said there might be some few changes to other positions in the Presidium but he indicated that it was the prerogative of President Mugabe as the First Secretary of the party to deal with such issues.

Gumbo said Zanu-PF had lined up many events this year as they build up towards the Congress.

"When we go for Congress we try to restructure the party from the cell," he said.

"In line with that, we are going to have a Women's Conference sometime in July followed by a Youth Conference. All these events will be in preparation of the main Congress that will follow later."

Zanu-PF, Gumbo said, was formulating a mechanism to monitor and evaluate implementation of Zim Asset by various ministries.

He said this was in line with the party's policy of ensuring maximum implementation of last year's electoral promises.

"As a party we want to monitor and evaluate the performance of various ministries," he said.

"The party has to support programmes that strengthen the economy," he said.

In this regard, Gumbo said there should be clarity on the issue of indigenisation to attract foreign investment. He said the party was also keen to see beneficiation of minerals to ensure maximum benefits for the country.

"As a country we will not benefit anything from exporting stones," he said.

"Why should we continue to export raw minerals yet we can build refineries to add values to these minerals?"