News / National
Khaya Moyo speaks on Mugabe succession
23 Jun 2014 at 08:36hrs | Views
Zanu-PF national chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo says it is premature for bigwigs in Zanu-PF to jostle for the party presidency ahead of the December congress, advising they should be patient and wait to follow proper party procedures to be elected.
The party presidency is made up of the president, two vice presidents, the national chairperson and the secretary for administration, who is its secretary.
Reports are awash of serious jostling and horse-trading among party heavyweights on factional lines to land senior positions in the Zanu-PF presidium, women and youth leagues ahead of the elective congress in December.
Two distinct factions have emerged in Zanu-PF, one reportedly led by Vice President Joice Mujuru and the other by Justice minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a battle to succeed veteran leader, President Robert Mugabe. Mujuru and Mnangagwa have denied leading any factions.
Mugabe recently said it was not only Mujuru and Mnangagwa eyeing his position, insisting it was up to the people to decide on his successor.
In an interview on the sidelines of the Region Africa Middle East (Rame) 2014 conference at the resort town of Victoria Falls on Wednesday, Khaya Moyo said party positions, including the presidency, were not yet up for grabs, adding that congress had the final say on who will lead Zanu-PF for the next five years.
"Zanu-PF has procedures that have to be followed by whoever wants a position, and our principle as a party is clear on that. We have a national congress that elects people, not people contesting against each other for positions," he said.
Asked if he would accept the position of president if elected by the people at the national congress, Moyo said he was prepared to take any position he would have been elected to by the people.
"We cannot be talking about positions yet because we are busy preparing for the national congress where, as per tradition, we have the national youth congress and the women's league congress before we can have the national congress," Khaya Moyo said.
"I am not in a position to say anything yet (but) only after the national congress. If I am nominated for whatever position by the congress, I will accept because that will be the people's will. Why would I turn them down?"
Khaya Moyo is heavily tipped to become the second vice president to feel in the vacancy created by the death of John Nkomo last year, with a fierce contest expected on the party's national chairmanship where party administrative secretary Didymus Mutasa is reportedly angling to occupy.
The party presidency is made up of the president, two vice presidents, the national chairperson and the secretary for administration, who is its secretary.
Reports are awash of serious jostling and horse-trading among party heavyweights on factional lines to land senior positions in the Zanu-PF presidium, women and youth leagues ahead of the elective congress in December.
Two distinct factions have emerged in Zanu-PF, one reportedly led by Vice President Joice Mujuru and the other by Justice minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a battle to succeed veteran leader, President Robert Mugabe. Mujuru and Mnangagwa have denied leading any factions.
Mugabe recently said it was not only Mujuru and Mnangagwa eyeing his position, insisting it was up to the people to decide on his successor.
In an interview on the sidelines of the Region Africa Middle East (Rame) 2014 conference at the resort town of Victoria Falls on Wednesday, Khaya Moyo said party positions, including the presidency, were not yet up for grabs, adding that congress had the final say on who will lead Zanu-PF for the next five years.
"Zanu-PF has procedures that have to be followed by whoever wants a position, and our principle as a party is clear on that. We have a national congress that elects people, not people contesting against each other for positions," he said.
Asked if he would accept the position of president if elected by the people at the national congress, Moyo said he was prepared to take any position he would have been elected to by the people.
"We cannot be talking about positions yet because we are busy preparing for the national congress where, as per tradition, we have the national youth congress and the women's league congress before we can have the national congress," Khaya Moyo said.
"I am not in a position to say anything yet (but) only after the national congress. If I am nominated for whatever position by the congress, I will accept because that will be the people's will. Why would I turn them down?"
Khaya Moyo is heavily tipped to become the second vice president to feel in the vacancy created by the death of John Nkomo last year, with a fierce contest expected on the party's national chairmanship where party administrative secretary Didymus Mutasa is reportedly angling to occupy.
Source - Zim Mail
