News / National
Zanu-PF Politburo 'to amend constitution'
11 Nov 2014 at 09:23hrs | Views
The Zanu-PF Politburo meets on Thursday with another hot debate expected on proposed amendments to the revolutionary party's constitution.
Up for discussion is the proposed alignment of the party's constitution with the 1987 Unity Accord and the national constitution on how the two vice presidents assume their posts.
Zanu-PF secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa confirmed the meeting, but declined to disclose issues that would be on the agenda. "We're meeting on Thursday and as usual you'll be briefed by Cde (Rugare) Gumbo," he said.
"Musandinetse vanhu imi [Stop bothering me you people]."
But sources said the politburo would likely deliberate on growing calls to fully implement the Unity Accord which brought PF-Zapu and Zanu together in 1987. In part, the Unity Accord said the First Secretary and president of Zanu-PF would appoint two his two deputies, but the Zanu-PF constitution was never amended to reflect this and still requires that the deputies should be elected at congress.
However, the national Constitution still empowers the President to choose his two deputies.
Historically, the President has gone with his party's choices.
A politburo source said last night: "Remember, last time there were senior officials who wanted a selective amendment of Clause 32 of the party constitution which deals with the number of Central Committee members and election of Second Secretaries and the national chairman.
"The Politburo has since resolved to increase the number of Central Committee members, but there is a group advocating for the clause to be amended in its entirety, which makes sense.
"However, this group, which was for the increase of Central Committee members, does not want amendment of the section on election of second secretaries and national chairman."
There is also a growing lobby that the party amends a provision in its Constitution that allows 10 senior officials to automatically become Politburo members without Presidential appointment.
The 10 positions that automatically get Politburo status are the two Vice-Presidents and Second Secretaries, the National Chair, the Deputy Secretary for Women's Affairs and her five most senior officials, and the Deputy Secretary for the Youth League.
"These non-appointed officials are creating their own centres of power, which results in factionalism that manifested itself in vote-buying, violence, intimidation and general disloyalty to the President," said another politburo member.
Other issues that will be discussed include the rules and guidelines for the election of Central Committee members and other logistical issues relating to the National People's Congress set for December.
The Politburo is also expected to be briefed by various committees on congress preparations.
About $8 million is needed to successfully host the event in Harare from December 2 to 7.
Up for discussion is the proposed alignment of the party's constitution with the 1987 Unity Accord and the national constitution on how the two vice presidents assume their posts.
Zanu-PF secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa confirmed the meeting, but declined to disclose issues that would be on the agenda. "We're meeting on Thursday and as usual you'll be briefed by Cde (Rugare) Gumbo," he said.
"Musandinetse vanhu imi [Stop bothering me you people]."
But sources said the politburo would likely deliberate on growing calls to fully implement the Unity Accord which brought PF-Zapu and Zanu together in 1987. In part, the Unity Accord said the First Secretary and president of Zanu-PF would appoint two his two deputies, but the Zanu-PF constitution was never amended to reflect this and still requires that the deputies should be elected at congress.
However, the national Constitution still empowers the President to choose his two deputies.
Historically, the President has gone with his party's choices.
A politburo source said last night: "Remember, last time there were senior officials who wanted a selective amendment of Clause 32 of the party constitution which deals with the number of Central Committee members and election of Second Secretaries and the national chairman.
"The Politburo has since resolved to increase the number of Central Committee members, but there is a group advocating for the clause to be amended in its entirety, which makes sense.
"However, this group, which was for the increase of Central Committee members, does not want amendment of the section on election of second secretaries and national chairman."
There is also a growing lobby that the party amends a provision in its Constitution that allows 10 senior officials to automatically become Politburo members without Presidential appointment.
The 10 positions that automatically get Politburo status are the two Vice-Presidents and Second Secretaries, the National Chair, the Deputy Secretary for Women's Affairs and her five most senior officials, and the Deputy Secretary for the Youth League.
"These non-appointed officials are creating their own centres of power, which results in factionalism that manifested itself in vote-buying, violence, intimidation and general disloyalty to the President," said another politburo member.
Other issues that will be discussed include the rules and guidelines for the election of Central Committee members and other logistical issues relating to the National People's Congress set for December.
The Politburo is also expected to be briefed by various committees on congress preparations.
About $8 million is needed to successfully host the event in Harare from December 2 to 7.
Source - chronicle
