News / National
Confusion over Gono's senatorial seat
06 Sep 2014 at 09:39hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on Friday declared vacant the Manicaland senatorial seat Zanu-PF wants former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono to occupy, amid confusion on the interpretation of the law regarding the succession of proportional representation seats in the senate.
In notices in an extraordinary Government Gazette, Zec also declared the Mashonaland West senatorial seat vacant following the elevation of Edna Madzongwe to senate president last year.
The Manicaland seat fell vacant after the death of veteran nationalist, Kumbirai Kangai.
"The public is hereby notified, in terms of section 39 (4) (a) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13), of a vacancy among the party list members of the senate following the death on 24th August 2013 of Kumbirai Manyika Kangai, Senator for Manicaland province," the notice from Zec chairperson, Rita Makarau read.
A similar notice was gazetted on Manicaland seat.
Gono was not on the ruling party's original list of candidates submitted to Zec before last July's elections.
Despite this, Zanu-PF at its annual conference last year endorsed Gono to take over from Kangai.
The party's list submitted to Zec, however, had indicated that former MP Shadreck Chipanga was supposed to succeed Kangai.
Legal experts have given several interpretations of the law, with some arguing that it would be illegal for Gono to occupy the seat, while others said he qualified.
Rugare Gumbo, Zanu-PF's spokesperson, yesterday said the position of the ruling party regarding Gono has not changed.
"Zanu-PF's position has not changed, we recommended him and that is it. What is going to happen from now on is another matter, and I suppose if he (Gono) is interested he is going to submit his name," said Gumbo.
Zanu-PF's Manicaland provincial chairperson John Mvundura said his executive had done what was required of it.
"As a province, we did all we were supposed to do a long time ago (appointing Gono) and we were waiting for that notice. If, as you say, they have published, then we will start moving forward. We had thought that by now we would have cleared everything," said Mvundura.
Quizzed on whether Gono was eligible for senate, Mvundura said: "You are behind because we have dealt with that already."
Gono was not available for comment yesterday, but last week he reportedly told colleagues and Zanu-PF officials gathered at Kangai's memorial that he was ready to take up public office.
"It is not yet ripe for me to become your leader, let us wait for all the necessary procedures to be completed. We need to follow the party protocol until such a time the party leadership confirms me," he said.
Reports indicated that Zanu-PF was having trouble with the appointment of Gono because he had not been on the party list in the run-up to the elections last July.
In notices in an extraordinary Government Gazette, Zec also declared the Mashonaland West senatorial seat vacant following the elevation of Edna Madzongwe to senate president last year.
The Manicaland seat fell vacant after the death of veteran nationalist, Kumbirai Kangai.
"The public is hereby notified, in terms of section 39 (4) (a) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13), of a vacancy among the party list members of the senate following the death on 24th August 2013 of Kumbirai Manyika Kangai, Senator for Manicaland province," the notice from Zec chairperson, Rita Makarau read.
A similar notice was gazetted on Manicaland seat.
Gono was not on the ruling party's original list of candidates submitted to Zec before last July's elections.
Despite this, Zanu-PF at its annual conference last year endorsed Gono to take over from Kangai.
The party's list submitted to Zec, however, had indicated that former MP Shadreck Chipanga was supposed to succeed Kangai.
Legal experts have given several interpretations of the law, with some arguing that it would be illegal for Gono to occupy the seat, while others said he qualified.
Rugare Gumbo, Zanu-PF's spokesperson, yesterday said the position of the ruling party regarding Gono has not changed.
"Zanu-PF's position has not changed, we recommended him and that is it. What is going to happen from now on is another matter, and I suppose if he (Gono) is interested he is going to submit his name," said Gumbo.
Zanu-PF's Manicaland provincial chairperson John Mvundura said his executive had done what was required of it.
"As a province, we did all we were supposed to do a long time ago (appointing Gono) and we were waiting for that notice. If, as you say, they have published, then we will start moving forward. We had thought that by now we would have cleared everything," said Mvundura.
Quizzed on whether Gono was eligible for senate, Mvundura said: "You are behind because we have dealt with that already."
Gono was not available for comment yesterday, but last week he reportedly told colleagues and Zanu-PF officials gathered at Kangai's memorial that he was ready to take up public office.
"It is not yet ripe for me to become your leader, let us wait for all the necessary procedures to be completed. We need to follow the party protocol until such a time the party leadership confirms me," he said.
Reports indicated that Zanu-PF was having trouble with the appointment of Gono because he had not been on the party list in the run-up to the elections last July.
Source - Zim Mail
