News / National
Mudenda survives
03 Dec 2014 at 05:53hrs | Views
ZANU-PF Politburo members Simon Khaya Moyo, Jacob Mudenda, Sithembiso Nyoni and Fati Mpofu have survived the chop after the Politburo retained them on the Central Committee lists for Matabeleland South and North.
This follows a controversial vote of no confidence passed on Cdes Mudenda, Nyoni and Mpofu at the weekend and a last-minute attempt by some party members and war veterans from Matabeleland South yesterday to remove Khaya Moyo and Provincial Affairs Minister Abedinico Ncube from the list of the Central Committee members.
Sources who attended the Politburo meeting said the moves were described as not only baseless but also mischievous.
Announcing the Politburo position on Matabeleland North, Khaya Moyo said all who had been removed from the provincial list had been restored.
"On Matabeleland North province, the Politburo took a position that Cdes Jacob Mudenda, Sithembiso Nyoni and Fati Mpofu remain on the Central Committee list as earlier presented by the Matabeleland North provincial congress coordinating committee," he said briefing journalists after the meeting.
"Others who were similarly affected in the province have had their positions restored."
Elias Mavule's nomination had been withdrawn and replaced by Esau Dube while Mpofu had been replaced by Jonathan Mathuthu, husband to Politburo member Thokozile Mathuthu and former provincial secretary for information and publicity.
Violence broke out at the Zanu-PF Matabeleland North inter-district conference between protestors from Hwange and Umguza districts over allegations of factionalism and abuse of power.
Zanu-PF Politburo member, Obert Mpofu was in the spotlight after the meeting with claims that he "unilaterally and unprocedurally" oversaw a plot to withdraw Mudenda's Central Committee nomination in his bid to land the post of chairman while sidelining the Speaker of the National Assembly.
The chaotic inter-district conference also resolved to recommend to the Politburo that Cdes Nyoni and Mudenda be withdrawn from the Central Committee over allegations that the former led a campaign to oust President Mugabe while the latter allegedly sponsored demonstrations during the congress accreditation process three weeks ago in Hwange at which Obert Mpofu's wife Sikhanyisiwe presided.
The Hwange protest was over the accreditation of Patrick Utete who allegedly stated after the 2008 elections that the party suffered its first round defeat because of President Mugabe.
The national chairman said the Politburo also declared null and void the election for a new provincial executive in Masvingo last weekend. Thus the Politburo directed that Paradzai Chakona remains acting chairperson and will lead the province to congress. Pupurai Togarepi had been elected to the position of substantive chair at the weekend.
Khaya Moyo said the Politburo meeting, which lasted about seven hours, had deliberated on the preparations for the 6th Zanu-PF National People's Congress which started yesterday and proposed names of members to the Central Committee.
"You will be aware that his Excellency President Mugabe visited the venue yesterday. The First Lady Grace Mugabe honoured us by visiting the congress venue today. So I can confirm that the preparations for the congress are now complete and delegates start arriving tomorrow," he said.
"It's really all systems go and we're excited about these developments. My prediction is this will be the best congress ever."
Khaya Moyo added, "The Politburo was also presented with names of proposed Central Committee members by chairpersons of provincial congress coordinating committees. The list as amended where it was applicable was agreed to and will be presented to the Central Committee tomorrow.
"The Central Committee report will be presented tomorrow at its 97th ordinary session. I want to emphasise that delegates start arriving tomorrow and congress begins on Thursday December 4, 2014."
Outside the meeting, a group of demonstrators chanted slogans denouncing party officials conspiring to unseat President Mugabe.
Vice-President Joice Mujuru was not in attendance for the second time as well as Cdes Didymus Mutasa and Nicholas Goche who are both reported ill.
This follows a controversial vote of no confidence passed on Cdes Mudenda, Nyoni and Mpofu at the weekend and a last-minute attempt by some party members and war veterans from Matabeleland South yesterday to remove Khaya Moyo and Provincial Affairs Minister Abedinico Ncube from the list of the Central Committee members.
Sources who attended the Politburo meeting said the moves were described as not only baseless but also mischievous.
Announcing the Politburo position on Matabeleland North, Khaya Moyo said all who had been removed from the provincial list had been restored.
"On Matabeleland North province, the Politburo took a position that Cdes Jacob Mudenda, Sithembiso Nyoni and Fati Mpofu remain on the Central Committee list as earlier presented by the Matabeleland North provincial congress coordinating committee," he said briefing journalists after the meeting.
"Others who were similarly affected in the province have had their positions restored."
Elias Mavule's nomination had been withdrawn and replaced by Esau Dube while Mpofu had been replaced by Jonathan Mathuthu, husband to Politburo member Thokozile Mathuthu and former provincial secretary for information and publicity.
Violence broke out at the Zanu-PF Matabeleland North inter-district conference between protestors from Hwange and Umguza districts over allegations of factionalism and abuse of power.
Zanu-PF Politburo member, Obert Mpofu was in the spotlight after the meeting with claims that he "unilaterally and unprocedurally" oversaw a plot to withdraw Mudenda's Central Committee nomination in his bid to land the post of chairman while sidelining the Speaker of the National Assembly.
The Hwange protest was over the accreditation of Patrick Utete who allegedly stated after the 2008 elections that the party suffered its first round defeat because of President Mugabe.
The national chairman said the Politburo also declared null and void the election for a new provincial executive in Masvingo last weekend. Thus the Politburo directed that Paradzai Chakona remains acting chairperson and will lead the province to congress. Pupurai Togarepi had been elected to the position of substantive chair at the weekend.
Khaya Moyo said the Politburo meeting, which lasted about seven hours, had deliberated on the preparations for the 6th Zanu-PF National People's Congress which started yesterday and proposed names of members to the Central Committee.
"You will be aware that his Excellency President Mugabe visited the venue yesterday. The First Lady Grace Mugabe honoured us by visiting the congress venue today. So I can confirm that the preparations for the congress are now complete and delegates start arriving tomorrow," he said.
"It's really all systems go and we're excited about these developments. My prediction is this will be the best congress ever."
Khaya Moyo added, "The Politburo was also presented with names of proposed Central Committee members by chairpersons of provincial congress coordinating committees. The list as amended where it was applicable was agreed to and will be presented to the Central Committee tomorrow.
"The Central Committee report will be presented tomorrow at its 97th ordinary session. I want to emphasise that delegates start arriving tomorrow and congress begins on Thursday December 4, 2014."
Outside the meeting, a group of demonstrators chanted slogans denouncing party officials conspiring to unseat President Mugabe.
Vice-President Joice Mujuru was not in attendance for the second time as well as Cdes Didymus Mutasa and Nicholas Goche who are both reported ill.
Source - chronicle
