News / National
NK Ndlovu not most senior, says Msipa
03 Oct 2014 at 04:31hrs | Views
Zanu PF politburo member and former PF-Zapu deputy secretary-general, Cephas Msipa, on Thursday said Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu, who is seemingly vying for the vice-president's position is not the "most senior" surviving former PF-Zapu member as he claims.
He said even if he was the "most senior" that would not necessarily qualify him for the VP post.
In an interview yesterday, Msipa – who is also former Midlands governor – said in any democracy people were free to express interest in any position in an organisation.
However, he said, this did not mean they were free to make statements that "are not true".
"It is not true that Ndlovu is the most senior former PF- Zapu member," said Msipa, who is considered the most senior surviving former PF-Zapu member. "One of the seniors yes, but not the most senior. No ! No ! No !"
Ndlovu, who was the first black mayor of Bulawayo, recently declared himself the "most senior former PF-Zapu" member and said that made him the most eligible person to occupy the VP position which fell vacant following the death of John Nkomo in January 2013.
He said he did not contest John Nkomo's elevation to VP – when Joseph Msika died – since Nkomo was second to Ndlovu in the line-up of former PF-Zapu members.
Ndlovu recently dared another VP aspirant, current Zanu PF chairperson, Simon Khaya Moyo, to "stand up and say he is the most senior".
Moyo was personal assistant to former PF-Zapu leader, Joshua Nkomo and was "nominated" for the VP position at a meeting- of former PF Zapu members who are in Zanu PF's central committee and politburo – held in Gweru last year and chaired by Msipa.
At the meeting, which ironically was also attended by Ndlovu, Moyo was "unanimously" endorsed as candidate for the VP position, which in terms of the Unity Accord of 1987 – that resulted in the merger of Zanu PF and PF-Zapu – is reserved for a former PF-Zapu member.
Yesterday, Msipa said being "senior" did not mean automatic assumption of the position.
"There are other things that people also look at, like ability," he said. "At the end of the day, in any democracy, people can express interest in a position but the wish of the majority is the one that will prevail."
Although in the run-up to Wednesday's Zanu PF politburo meeting there was speculation the VP issue would be discussed, Msipa said there were no deliberations on the issue.
"Although, I am not the party's spokesperson, I can still tell you that the issue was not discussed during the politburo meeting," he said.
The issue of reserving the VP post for a former PF-Zapu member has now been subject to intense debate, with some in Zanu-PF asking that democracy should be allowed to prevail.
Apart from Ndlovu and Moyo, former Zipra commanders, Phekezela Mphoko and Ambrose Mutinhiri as well as Politburo member, Kembo Mohadi, are reported to be gunning for the position.
Zipra was the armed wing of Zapu during the liberation struggle
He said even if he was the "most senior" that would not necessarily qualify him for the VP post.
In an interview yesterday, Msipa – who is also former Midlands governor – said in any democracy people were free to express interest in any position in an organisation.
However, he said, this did not mean they were free to make statements that "are not true".
"It is not true that Ndlovu is the most senior former PF- Zapu member," said Msipa, who is considered the most senior surviving former PF-Zapu member. "One of the seniors yes, but not the most senior. No ! No ! No !"
Ndlovu, who was the first black mayor of Bulawayo, recently declared himself the "most senior former PF-Zapu" member and said that made him the most eligible person to occupy the VP position which fell vacant following the death of John Nkomo in January 2013.
He said he did not contest John Nkomo's elevation to VP – when Joseph Msika died – since Nkomo was second to Ndlovu in the line-up of former PF-Zapu members.
Ndlovu recently dared another VP aspirant, current Zanu PF chairperson, Simon Khaya Moyo, to "stand up and say he is the most senior".
Moyo was personal assistant to former PF-Zapu leader, Joshua Nkomo and was "nominated" for the VP position at a meeting- of former PF Zapu members who are in Zanu PF's central committee and politburo – held in Gweru last year and chaired by Msipa.
At the meeting, which ironically was also attended by Ndlovu, Moyo was "unanimously" endorsed as candidate for the VP position, which in terms of the Unity Accord of 1987 – that resulted in the merger of Zanu PF and PF-Zapu – is reserved for a former PF-Zapu member.
Yesterday, Msipa said being "senior" did not mean automatic assumption of the position.
"There are other things that people also look at, like ability," he said. "At the end of the day, in any democracy, people can express interest in a position but the wish of the majority is the one that will prevail."
Although in the run-up to Wednesday's Zanu PF politburo meeting there was speculation the VP issue would be discussed, Msipa said there were no deliberations on the issue.
"Although, I am not the party's spokesperson, I can still tell you that the issue was not discussed during the politburo meeting," he said.
The issue of reserving the VP post for a former PF-Zapu member has now been subject to intense debate, with some in Zanu-PF asking that democracy should be allowed to prevail.
Apart from Ndlovu and Moyo, former Zipra commanders, Phekezela Mphoko and Ambrose Mutinhiri as well as Politburo member, Kembo Mohadi, are reported to be gunning for the position.
Zipra was the armed wing of Zapu during the liberation struggle
Source - Zim Mail
