News / National
ZEC to take charge of Zanu-PF's elective congress
16 Sep 2014 at 13:30hrs | Views
Zanu-PF's factional fights have gone a notch up amid reports there are demands by one camp for the election management body, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), to take charge of the party's elective process in December.
The ruling party faces its biggest congress since formation over 50 years ago as top officials, reportedly fronted by President Robert Mugabe's deputy, Joice Mujuru, who allegedly leads one faction, are locked in a bitter war of attrition against another, reportedly led by Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The Zanu-PF congress will elect its presidium amid reports that Mujuru may be challenged, alongside perceived members of her faction, among them national chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo, who is tipped to be elected second vice-president and Didymus Mutasa, eyeing the party's national chairship.
While it is not yet clear who, from the Mnangagwa faction, would challenge Mujuru, Moyo is likely to be challenged by either former Zimbabwe ambassador to South Africa Phekezela Mphoko or Home Affairs minister, Kembo Mohadi, for the vice-president's post. There are also moves to reserve the chairship position for former-PF Zapu cadres - thereby effectively ruling out Mutasa.
A senior member of the Mujuru faction, from Manicaland, told The Zimbabwe Mail that their camp intended to write to the party asking it to appoint Zec to run the congress elections to eliminate chances of vote-rigging.
The source said it was worrying that Mnangagwa had told the media that the polls would be by secret ballot, adding they were afraid that if ran by a party organ they would be rigged.
"The ANC in South Africa used the Independent Electoral Commission to run its internal elections to eliminate chances of rigging. Somebody, somewhere will say something that will trigger everything, but things will never be the same. Zanu-PF will never be the same after this, hence everything must be done with certainty and care," the insider said.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said he was unaware of such moves.
"The issues (ZEC conducting Zanu-PF elections) you are talking about have not been discussed. As far as I am aware, the congress is an internal matter that will be handled by the requisite party structures," said Gumbo.
ZEC chairperson Rita Makarau could not be contacted for comment as her mobile phone went unanswered.
The South African Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), then headed by Pansty Ntlakula, took charge of the ANC 2012 elective conference that saw President Jacob Zuma retain his position after having been challenged by his then deputy, Kgalema Mothlante. Thlakula resigned her post a week ago under pressure from opposition parties on claims she was compromised because of her links with the ruling party.
The Zimbabwe Mail also heard from an insider that the Zanu-PF constitution was undergoing "secret doctoring" ahead of the congress.
"This is a do or die congress and we are saying, we need ZEC to be in charge of the elections. We will also demand that the party constitution, that we know is being changed now, be translated into three languages; English, Ndebele and Shona before it can be used for this congress," the insider said.
It is believed that party secretary for administration, Mutasa, might be forced to put these issues before the politburo at its next meeting.
The source said the faction felt strongly that leaders from Mashonaland Central and Manicaland should be part of the presidium because the two provinces contributed immensely to the liberation of the country. He said Mujuru must retain her position while Mutasa becomes national chairperson.
"Manicaland, in particular, has become a guest at its own wedding. The leadership of the liberation struggle was mainly drawn from that province and along with Mashonaland Central, bore the brunt of the war. We deserve to lead this country and the time is now to lay the necessary foundation for that to happen," the source added, giving an indication of the ethnic dimensions that the factional fights have assumed.
The then Zanu, formed following a split from Zapu in 1963, was led by Ndabaningi Sithole as president before the iconic national hero Herbert Chitepo took over as national chairperson, to prosecute the struggle.
Among its other leaders from Manicaland were Edison Sithole and the fiery Edgar Tekere, who later became secretary general. Mujuru is from Mashonaland Central, but was married to the late military commander, Solomon Mujuru, who was from Mashonaland East.
The faction, he said, could ill afford landing positions in the presidium. He said if blocked, they would seriously consider splitting from Zanu-PF and work with progressive forces.
"If they think they can ambush people with the constitutional changes, again then they have another thing coming. We are prepared to split from the party. We will join forces with Morgan Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai will bring us the critical mass we need. Tsvangirai is our home boy and we can work with him for the sake of this nation."
The ruling party faces its biggest congress since formation over 50 years ago as top officials, reportedly fronted by President Robert Mugabe's deputy, Joice Mujuru, who allegedly leads one faction, are locked in a bitter war of attrition against another, reportedly led by Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The Zanu-PF congress will elect its presidium amid reports that Mujuru may be challenged, alongside perceived members of her faction, among them national chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo, who is tipped to be elected second vice-president and Didymus Mutasa, eyeing the party's national chairship.
While it is not yet clear who, from the Mnangagwa faction, would challenge Mujuru, Moyo is likely to be challenged by either former Zimbabwe ambassador to South Africa Phekezela Mphoko or Home Affairs minister, Kembo Mohadi, for the vice-president's post. There are also moves to reserve the chairship position for former-PF Zapu cadres - thereby effectively ruling out Mutasa.
A senior member of the Mujuru faction, from Manicaland, told The Zimbabwe Mail that their camp intended to write to the party asking it to appoint Zec to run the congress elections to eliminate chances of vote-rigging.
The source said it was worrying that Mnangagwa had told the media that the polls would be by secret ballot, adding they were afraid that if ran by a party organ they would be rigged.
"The ANC in South Africa used the Independent Electoral Commission to run its internal elections to eliminate chances of rigging. Somebody, somewhere will say something that will trigger everything, but things will never be the same. Zanu-PF will never be the same after this, hence everything must be done with certainty and care," the insider said.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said he was unaware of such moves.
"The issues (ZEC conducting Zanu-PF elections) you are talking about have not been discussed. As far as I am aware, the congress is an internal matter that will be handled by the requisite party structures," said Gumbo.
ZEC chairperson Rita Makarau could not be contacted for comment as her mobile phone went unanswered.
The South African Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), then headed by Pansty Ntlakula, took charge of the ANC 2012 elective conference that saw President Jacob Zuma retain his position after having been challenged by his then deputy, Kgalema Mothlante. Thlakula resigned her post a week ago under pressure from opposition parties on claims she was compromised because of her links with the ruling party.
The Zimbabwe Mail also heard from an insider that the Zanu-PF constitution was undergoing "secret doctoring" ahead of the congress.
"This is a do or die congress and we are saying, we need ZEC to be in charge of the elections. We will also demand that the party constitution, that we know is being changed now, be translated into three languages; English, Ndebele and Shona before it can be used for this congress," the insider said.
It is believed that party secretary for administration, Mutasa, might be forced to put these issues before the politburo at its next meeting.
The source said the faction felt strongly that leaders from Mashonaland Central and Manicaland should be part of the presidium because the two provinces contributed immensely to the liberation of the country. He said Mujuru must retain her position while Mutasa becomes national chairperson.
"Manicaland, in particular, has become a guest at its own wedding. The leadership of the liberation struggle was mainly drawn from that province and along with Mashonaland Central, bore the brunt of the war. We deserve to lead this country and the time is now to lay the necessary foundation for that to happen," the source added, giving an indication of the ethnic dimensions that the factional fights have assumed.
The then Zanu, formed following a split from Zapu in 1963, was led by Ndabaningi Sithole as president before the iconic national hero Herbert Chitepo took over as national chairperson, to prosecute the struggle.
Among its other leaders from Manicaland were Edison Sithole and the fiery Edgar Tekere, who later became secretary general. Mujuru is from Mashonaland Central, but was married to the late military commander, Solomon Mujuru, who was from Mashonaland East.
The faction, he said, could ill afford landing positions in the presidium. He said if blocked, they would seriously consider splitting from Zanu-PF and work with progressive forces.
"If they think they can ambush people with the constitutional changes, again then they have another thing coming. We are prepared to split from the party. We will join forces with Morgan Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai will bring us the critical mass we need. Tsvangirai is our home boy and we can work with him for the sake of this nation."
Source - Zim Mail
