News / Regional
'Khaya Moyo should be challenged'
31 Jul 2014 at 11:37hrs | Views
Former Zipra commanders like Phekezela Mphoko and Ambrose Mutinhiri have a right to challenge Zanu-PF National chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo for the post of vice president, war veteran and former Zanu-PF provincial chairperson for Bulawayo, George Mlala said on Tuesday.
The VP post fell vacant last year following the death of John Nkomo.
The position is reserved for former-PF Zapu members in terms of the Unity Accord of 1987 which saw the merger of-PF Zapu and Zanu-PF to form the reconstituted Zanu-PF.
Zanu-PF politburo member and ex-Zipra combatant, Retired Colonel Trust Tshinga Dube, was recently quoted saying ex-Zipra cadres should not "jostle" for the position of vice president while another Zipra veteran from Matabeleland South Jabulani Petshu Sibanda said Moyo was the right choice and other people should not waste time trying to get the position.
This was after Mutinhiri said he still needed to consult on whether he should contest for the post while Mphoko has not yet declared his interests though he is believed to be interested in the position.
However, Mlala, who is a former Zipra combatant, yesterday came out guns blazing in support of his former commanders.
"For anyone to say that Zipra cadres should not jostle for the vice presidency is an insult. If any of the remaining few commanders like Mphoko and Mutinhiri are interested in the position, then let them contest. When Mphoko left the country it was after the party,-PF Zapu had identified him saying this is a good youth and we can make a good soldier out of him (sic). Mphoko has the credentials to become vice president. During the liberation struggle, he was a Zipra commander responsible for Logistics. That is a crucial position which involved sourcing arms, it's not like being a storekeeper. After independence, he served in government taking various diplomatic positions and thereby learning a lot about governance, which qualifies him to be vice president."
Mlala said it was absurd that Dube and Sibanda were of the opinion that no one should challenge Simon Khaya Moyo for the vice presidency.
"I don't think Moyo is the one who is saying he should not be challenged. I think it's just people acting as self appointed spokespersons who are saying that."
Moyo was unanimously chosen for the VP position by some former senior-PF Zapu members including Dube, and ironically Mutinhiri at a meeting chaired by former party secretary-general, Cephas Msipa, in September last year in Gweru.
Zanu-PF is scheduled to hold its elective congress in December this year.
The VP post fell vacant last year following the death of John Nkomo.
The position is reserved for former-PF Zapu members in terms of the Unity Accord of 1987 which saw the merger of-PF Zapu and Zanu-PF to form the reconstituted Zanu-PF.
Zanu-PF politburo member and ex-Zipra combatant, Retired Colonel Trust Tshinga Dube, was recently quoted saying ex-Zipra cadres should not "jostle" for the position of vice president while another Zipra veteran from Matabeleland South Jabulani Petshu Sibanda said Moyo was the right choice and other people should not waste time trying to get the position.
This was after Mutinhiri said he still needed to consult on whether he should contest for the post while Mphoko has not yet declared his interests though he is believed to be interested in the position.
However, Mlala, who is a former Zipra combatant, yesterday came out guns blazing in support of his former commanders.
"For anyone to say that Zipra cadres should not jostle for the vice presidency is an insult. If any of the remaining few commanders like Mphoko and Mutinhiri are interested in the position, then let them contest. When Mphoko left the country it was after the party,-PF Zapu had identified him saying this is a good youth and we can make a good soldier out of him (sic). Mphoko has the credentials to become vice president. During the liberation struggle, he was a Zipra commander responsible for Logistics. That is a crucial position which involved sourcing arms, it's not like being a storekeeper. After independence, he served in government taking various diplomatic positions and thereby learning a lot about governance, which qualifies him to be vice president."
Mlala said it was absurd that Dube and Sibanda were of the opinion that no one should challenge Simon Khaya Moyo for the vice presidency.
"I don't think Moyo is the one who is saying he should not be challenged. I think it's just people acting as self appointed spokespersons who are saying that."
Moyo was unanimously chosen for the VP position by some former senior-PF Zapu members including Dube, and ironically Mutinhiri at a meeting chaired by former party secretary-general, Cephas Msipa, in September last year in Gweru.
Zanu-PF is scheduled to hold its elective congress in December this year.
Source - Zim Mail
