Ex-Zipra female politicians dig in on Vice Presidency post

EX-ZIPRA female cadres yesterday said the Zanu-PF December elective congress should not divert from the existing precedence of elevating party national chairman to the Vice Presidency post.

Contributing to the ongoing discussion on who would fill the late Vice President Landa John Nkomo's shoes following his death in January last year, female ex-Zipra cadres said the post was not open to all people.

Zanu-PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo has been tipped to land the VP position judging by his seniority in the revolutionary party while former South African Ambassador Phelekezela Mphoko, ex-Zipra commander Retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri and Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi have been cited as contenders in the race.

Mohadi last week said he was ready to take up the post if he gets backing from the people while Transport and Infrastructural Development Dr Obert Mpofu has called for the opening up of the race saying reserving it for someone was not democratic.

Female cadres yesterday threw their weight behind Khaya Moyo saying his elevation was in line with the party's culture.

Politburo member and Bulawayo Senator Angelina Masuku said the precedence adopted by the revolutionary party should remain unchanged.

"The precedence that was followed is what we are going to use. When Msika was appointed the Vice President he was the party's national chairman and this is what we are going to follow," said Masuku.

Zanu-PF Central Committee member Molly Mpofu weighed in saying there was no vacancy for those eyeing the coveted post.

"There is no open post. When Dr Joshua Nkomo was the Vice President, Msika was the national chairman and when Nkomo died Msika became the Vice President. The same thing happened when Msika was the Vice President, Landa Nkomo became the national chairman and when Msika died he was elevated to Vice-President. What has changed now that SK is the national chairman? Why should it change now?" said Mpofu.

Former PF Zapu founder member and Zanu-PF National Consultative Assembly member Jane Lungile Ngwenya said while it was not a written down rule, the national chairman becomes the Vice President and that was the party's culture.

"We created a precedence that if someone was the national chairman that person becomes the Vice President and this precedence has been working. Msika was the national chairman before he was appointed the Vice President. The same happened with Nkomo was the party's national chairman before being elevated to Vice Presidency. We created this, I don't think it was written down but from the start it's the way we've been operating," said Ngwenya.

Politburo member and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo declined to comment saying "it's an internal issue for Zanu-PF not for the Press."

Zanu-PF Politburo member Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube is on record as saying party cadres should stop jostling for the post as the suitable candidate was obvious.

Two weeks ago, Politburo member Abednigo Ncube torched a storm when he said Matabeleland South backed Khaya Moyo with some senior party members in the province Cdes Naison Ndlovu and Richard Ndlovu accusing him of jumping the gun.

However, last week Matabeleland South chairman Andrew Langa threw his weight behind Ncube saying he also shared the same sentiments.

Party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has said President Mugabe will have the final say in the choice of VP.