Grace Mugabe dropped from Presidential candidates list

ZANU-PF has dropped Grace Mugabe from its privileged list of Presidential Candidates. Grace was hoping to become her husband's automatic successor under the spin of women's league Secretary, Oppah Muchinguri.

Zanu-PF provinces have compiled a list of candidates they want to second to the Presidium at the party's elective National Congress in December, and will soon start receiving curriculum vitae from interested members.

Mashonaland Central and Bulawayo confirmed that their lists were ready for endorsement at their respective provincial co-ordinating committee conferences.

While candidates on the Bulawayo list could not be established, Mashonaland Central is rooting for President Mugabe (First Secretary and President); Vice-President Dr Joice Mujuru (Second Secretary and Vice-President) and Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo (National Chair).

Party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said the Politburo would meet on 22 October to draw up guidelines for all PCC conferences. The PCCs will also nominate Central Committee candidates for approval at Congress.

Gumbo said the Politburo meeting will discuss a report from the Commissariat.

"We will meet on the 22nd of October and receive a report from the Commissariat. We will then determine when we will have the PCC conferences. A decision will definitely be taken on that date," Gumbo said.

Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chair Professor Callistus Ndlovu said: "We are preparing for the PCCs like we always do ahead of congresses. However, we await direction from the Politburo. Once the guidelines are out, we will not waste time to convene the meeting.

"As a province, we are ready. Once everything is in place you shall be notified."

Mashonaland Central provincial chair, Luke Mushore said the province will convene its conference after the Politburo sits.

"We will meet after the Politburo meeting, and obviously our main agenda item are our preferred candidates to the Presidium.

"We are obviously going to endorse President Mugabe. The man has done a lot for this country. He deserves our support eternally."

Mashonaland East provincial chair Ray Kaukonde and his Masvingo counterpart, Brigadier-General (Retired) Killian Gwanetsa, referred all questions to Gumbo.

Andrew Langa (Matabeleland South) and Amos Midzi (Harare) declined commenting. Last month, Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi declared interest in one of the VP posts, setting the stage for a tussle with VP Mujuru and Ambassador Khaya Moyo, who has widely been touted as a contender.

Zimbabwe's former Ambassador to South Africa, Phelekezela Mphoko, also wants one of the VP posts. Ambrose Mutinhiri has also been linked to interest in a Presidium position.

The 2014 Youth and Women's League conferences endorsed President Mugabe's candidature, and the rest of the top posts are open to contest.

The Presidium comprises the First Secretary and President, two Vice-Presidents and Second Secretaries and the National Chair, and only exists as a body during Congress but has no constitutional basis in between.

Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa recently wrote to all provincial leaders, officially informing them of Congress in line with Article 5(22)(2) of the party's constitution.