News / National
Zanu-PF caucus yet to endorse Grace Mugabe
13 Aug 2014 at 13:50hrs | Views
Lawmakers in President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF are yet to endorse First Lady Grace Mugabe's nomination as the new secretary of the Women's League.
Joram Gumbo, the Zanu-PF chief whip, told the Daily News in an interview on Monday that legislators were yet to meet as a caucus to ratify the decision.
"We are yet to sit as MPs to make such a decision but other MPs in the various party organs are supporting the idea to appoint Amai Mugabe," Gumbo said.
He claimed most legislators, who sit in the Women's League and Youth League organs, were in support of the idea.
"These MPs made their decision in their various organs of the party in the Youth and Women's League as party members, not as MPs," Gumbo clarified.
"We have young MPs like Mike Gava (Mhondoro- Gezi) Anastancia Ndlovu (Midlands) Yeukai Simbanegavi (Masvingo- Gutu) Kudzanayi Chipanga (Makoni West), amongst many MPs who endorsed Amai Mugabe.
"These youths are led by Absalom Sikoshana who met our young MPs and made the resolution. This also applies to the Women's League members like Oppah Muchinguri, (Manicaland) Mandy Chimene, (Makoni South) Sarah Mahoka (Hurungwe East) and Flora Buka (Midlands), these are all MPs, and they made their own recommendations," Gumbo said.
He said the endorsement by those few MPs did not imply that it was the legislature's resolution. Gumbo said other party organs such as the Central Committee were yet to deliberate on the issue.
The Women's League recommended Grace's appointment to the position during her 49th birthday party at her orphanage in Mazowe two weeks ago.
Last week, hundreds of Zanu-PF youths gathered at the Amai Grace Mugabe Children's Home to endorse the Women's League resolution to install her as the leader of the organ.
Mugabe and the politburo have a final say in the matter, which violates the party's guidelines.
In the event that Grace lands the post, she will follow the footsteps of the late Sally Mugabe, who was the first secretary of the Women League from 1980 until her death in 1992.
Currently, the Zanu-PF Women's League is led by Muchinguri, who has indicated that she is ready to relinquish her post for Grace.
Joram Gumbo, the Zanu-PF chief whip, told the Daily News in an interview on Monday that legislators were yet to meet as a caucus to ratify the decision.
"We are yet to sit as MPs to make such a decision but other MPs in the various party organs are supporting the idea to appoint Amai Mugabe," Gumbo said.
He claimed most legislators, who sit in the Women's League and Youth League organs, were in support of the idea.
"These MPs made their decision in their various organs of the party in the Youth and Women's League as party members, not as MPs," Gumbo clarified.
"We have young MPs like Mike Gava (Mhondoro- Gezi) Anastancia Ndlovu (Midlands) Yeukai Simbanegavi (Masvingo- Gutu) Kudzanayi Chipanga (Makoni West), amongst many MPs who endorsed Amai Mugabe.
"These youths are led by Absalom Sikoshana who met our young MPs and made the resolution. This also applies to the Women's League members like Oppah Muchinguri, (Manicaland) Mandy Chimene, (Makoni South) Sarah Mahoka (Hurungwe East) and Flora Buka (Midlands), these are all MPs, and they made their own recommendations," Gumbo said.
He said the endorsement by those few MPs did not imply that it was the legislature's resolution. Gumbo said other party organs such as the Central Committee were yet to deliberate on the issue.
The Women's League recommended Grace's appointment to the position during her 49th birthday party at her orphanage in Mazowe two weeks ago.
Last week, hundreds of Zanu-PF youths gathered at the Amai Grace Mugabe Children's Home to endorse the Women's League resolution to install her as the leader of the organ.
Mugabe and the politburo have a final say in the matter, which violates the party's guidelines.
In the event that Grace lands the post, she will follow the footsteps of the late Sally Mugabe, who was the first secretary of the Women League from 1980 until her death in 1992.
Currently, the Zanu-PF Women's League is led by Muchinguri, who has indicated that she is ready to relinquish her post for Grace.
Source - dailynews
