News / National
Gideon Gono cry foul
25 Sep 2014 at 08:24hrs | Views
FORMER Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono yesterday claimed that his recent disqualification by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to stand as Manicaland senator was engineered by his political detractors as part of the ongoing faction fights rocking the ruling Zanu-PF party.
Zec chairperson Justice Rita Makarau on September 15 this year wrote to Zanu-PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo advising him that Gono did not qualify to assume the Senate seat as the ex-central bank governor was not a registered voter in Manicaland province.
This was after Zanu-PF had forwarded Gono's name as a replacement for the late veteran nationalist Kumbirai Kangai, who died in August last year shortly before he was sworn in as Manicaland senator.
Gono told NewsDay that his detractors threw spanners along his way after he had followed all the necessary procedures.
"Zec has done its part and let those whose job it is to do their part do it. Like Zec says, there is a vacuum in the law so that vacuum needs filling regardless of whether it is Gono or not," he said.
"I transferred from Harare to Buhera West on December, 5 2013. The Registrar-General's Office gave me confirmation of transfer which Zec has got. Why the two organisations cannot manage transitions and authenticate transfers between themselves boggles the mind."
Gono added: "It is clear that someone from outside the province is playing games hoping that they can torpedo the Zanu-PF politburo and Manicaland province as well Buhera district's choice.
"Fortunately, I have all the patience in the world to wait for whoever needs to do their job to do it even if it means waiting till 2018, 2023 or beyond. No one from outside Buhera can hope to replace those born in Buhera."
The former-banker-turned farmer described Zanu-PF factionalism as "vulturous" and detrimental to economic recovery.
"The race to succeed a sitting President, even to position oneself for it while he is still there, reflects very badly when pitted against our culture and is nothing, but vulturous. Opposition parties should do that, not a ruling party," he said.
"The practice divides investors and splits all branches of government into enclaves of inefficiency to the detriment of professionalism and the ordinary man and woman in the street. Besides, factionalism breeds corruption and tolerance of both corruption and mediocrity.
"We must all shun that and rally behind the President, VaMugabe chete. If it means that for rejecting factionalism I will be kept out of the political structures, so be it."
Meanwhile, Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said the party leadership that had made a decision on the matter would meet soon to decide Gono's fate.
"This is an internal matter that will be discussed in the politburo and an announcement will be made," Gumbo said.
Zec chairperson Justice Rita Makarau on September 15 this year wrote to Zanu-PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo advising him that Gono did not qualify to assume the Senate seat as the ex-central bank governor was not a registered voter in Manicaland province.
This was after Zanu-PF had forwarded Gono's name as a replacement for the late veteran nationalist Kumbirai Kangai, who died in August last year shortly before he was sworn in as Manicaland senator.
Gono told NewsDay that his detractors threw spanners along his way after he had followed all the necessary procedures.
"Zec has done its part and let those whose job it is to do their part do it. Like Zec says, there is a vacuum in the law so that vacuum needs filling regardless of whether it is Gono or not," he said.
"I transferred from Harare to Buhera West on December, 5 2013. The Registrar-General's Office gave me confirmation of transfer which Zec has got. Why the two organisations cannot manage transitions and authenticate transfers between themselves boggles the mind."
Gono added: "It is clear that someone from outside the province is playing games hoping that they can torpedo the Zanu-PF politburo and Manicaland province as well Buhera district's choice.
The former-banker-turned farmer described Zanu-PF factionalism as "vulturous" and detrimental to economic recovery.
"The race to succeed a sitting President, even to position oneself for it while he is still there, reflects very badly when pitted against our culture and is nothing, but vulturous. Opposition parties should do that, not a ruling party," he said.
"The practice divides investors and splits all branches of government into enclaves of inefficiency to the detriment of professionalism and the ordinary man and woman in the street. Besides, factionalism breeds corruption and tolerance of both corruption and mediocrity.
"We must all shun that and rally behind the President, VaMugabe chete. If it means that for rejecting factionalism I will be kept out of the political structures, so be it."
Meanwhile, Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said the party leadership that had made a decision on the matter would meet soon to decide Gono's fate.
"This is an internal matter that will be discussed in the politburo and an announcement will be made," Gumbo said.
Source - newsday
