News / Regional
Zanu-PF dumps quota system for women
29 Dec 2012 at 07:21hrs | Views
Zanu-PF Matabeleland North province will not have a quota system for women in the forthcoming party primary elections, but will let all interested candidates square off on an equal footing, politburo member Obert Mpofu said on Thursday.
Addressing party members at a developmental meeting in Tsholotsho, Mpofu - who is also Mines and Mining Development minister - said in recent years he had advocated that Hwange and Tsholotsho be reserved for women, but things had changed.
"We are here to support you; you will choose whichever candidate you want. That person will be chosen by you," said Mpofu, who claims to be the most senior Zanu-PF official in the province.
"A long time ago, I insisted that Tsholotsho and Hwange be reserved for women, but now things have changed. You have to compete with other party members in the primaries to be chosen."
The quota system caused a storm in the 2005 Zanu-PF primary elections with party insiders claiming the clause was meant to bar former Information minister Jonathan Moyo from contesting the Tsholotsho North seat.
However, Moyo defied the order and contested the parliamentary election which he won as an independent candidate before rejoining Zanu-PF.
Moyo at the time was sacked from Zanu-PF over his alleged involvement in what has come to be known as the Dinyane/Tsholotsho Declaration which sought to bar then Women's League boss Joice Mujuru from landing the Vice-Presidency post ahead of Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In his address, Mpofu urged Tsholotsho residents to rally behind Zanu-PF candidates from council elections to the Presidency.
"We need to vote Zanu-PF all the way so that we can bring about development. The councillor will relay information to the MPs and the line goes right to the President, but when you have a Zanu-PF councillor and MDC parliamentarian, that line is disturbed," he said.
"We have sunk boreholes and built schools in Umguza. I will never lose an election. Even (Prime Minister) Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC-T, Welshman Ncube, leader of MDC, and Dumiso Dabengwa from Zapu will not even get half of my votes in Umguza. We will not lose because we are united in Umguza and I urge you the people of Tsholotsho to unite with your leaders and you will realise development in your area."
Addressing party members at a developmental meeting in Tsholotsho, Mpofu - who is also Mines and Mining Development minister - said in recent years he had advocated that Hwange and Tsholotsho be reserved for women, but things had changed.
"We are here to support you; you will choose whichever candidate you want. That person will be chosen by you," said Mpofu, who claims to be the most senior Zanu-PF official in the province.
"A long time ago, I insisted that Tsholotsho and Hwange be reserved for women, but now things have changed. You have to compete with other party members in the primaries to be chosen."
The quota system caused a storm in the 2005 Zanu-PF primary elections with party insiders claiming the clause was meant to bar former Information minister Jonathan Moyo from contesting the Tsholotsho North seat.
Moyo at the time was sacked from Zanu-PF over his alleged involvement in what has come to be known as the Dinyane/Tsholotsho Declaration which sought to bar then Women's League boss Joice Mujuru from landing the Vice-Presidency post ahead of Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In his address, Mpofu urged Tsholotsho residents to rally behind Zanu-PF candidates from council elections to the Presidency.
"We need to vote Zanu-PF all the way so that we can bring about development. The councillor will relay information to the MPs and the line goes right to the President, but when you have a Zanu-PF councillor and MDC parliamentarian, that line is disturbed," he said.
"We have sunk boreholes and built schools in Umguza. I will never lose an election. Even (Prime Minister) Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC-T, Welshman Ncube, leader of MDC, and Dumiso Dabengwa from Zapu will not even get half of my votes in Umguza. We will not lose because we are united in Umguza and I urge you the people of Tsholotsho to unite with your leaders and you will realise development in your area."
Source - newsday
