Gono's senatorial hopes dealt a mortal blow

FORMER central bank governor Gideon Gono's hopes of landing a political post as Buhera Senator have been dealt a mortal blow.

Ex-CIO deputy director-general Tongesayi Shadreck Chipanga Zanu-PF to fill the Manicaland senatorial seat that fell vacant following the death of Kumbirai Kangai in 2013.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission officially announced Chipanga's nomination in a Government Gazette last Friday which was republished on Monday.

The nomination effectively locks out Gono who had earlier been earmarked for the seat.

Gono, who left the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in 2013 after a 10-year stint, was nominated by Zanu-PF Manicaland province to replace the late ex-minister, Kangai as senator for the province.

But after almost a year of waiting and just as it looked certain that the ex-central bank chief was going to be a senator, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) pulled the rug from under his feet.

The electoral agency said Gono does not qualify for the post since he is not a registered voter for any ward in Manicaland as demanded by the law.

In their application to have Gono replace Kangai ahead of Chipanga Zanu-PF registered the former central bank boss as a voter on December 5, 2013 after the harmonised polls, a move which ZEC chairperson, Rita Makarau described as illegal.

The registration was done by the registrar-general, Tobaiwa Mudede when, at law, he had ceased to conduct such duties.

Zanu-PF is embroiled in factional fights between two camps with one being led by Vice President Joice Mujuru which has the backing of Mujuru and another fronted by Justice Minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa.