Opinion / Columnist
Mugabe's delay in naming new Zanu-PF presidium fuelling speculation
09 Dec 2014 at 14:13hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe's inordinate delay in naming a new Zanu-PF presidium is fuelling speculation about the candidates that will be chosen to the top posts.
In the week since Mugabe, 90, surprised the 6th Zanu-PF congress by announcing he will not immediately name the presidium, he has provided little clarity on Vice President Joice Mujuru's successor.
Mugabe said he is studying the names of people in the central committee before making his final decision on the key posts, possibly by Wednesday.
The presidium comprises himself as the first secretary, and has already been re-elected unopposed, two second secretaries and the party chairman. These positions, which have over the years been filled through party elections, normally translate into national state posts. The previous presidium comprised Mugabe, Mujuru and Simon Khaya Moyo.
The inordinate delay in the announcement of a new presidium is very bad for the economy. It increasingly creates the impression that Mugabe is not ready to name a successor.
While Emmerson Mnangagwa has emerged as a hot favourite to succeed Mujuru, local pundits have speculated that Mugabe may choose an ex-Zapu cadre with stronger ties to the armed wing Zipra to take up the second, second-secretary post.
Khaya Moyo or Phelekezela Mphoko may be potential candidates for the other second secretary's post.
We would have preferred for this to be done in a different way, where Mujuru's successor was announced at the close of congress. This hold-up is adding to unnecessary uncertainty.
Of course Mugabe is not under pressure to name Mujuru's successor as she remains in her position in government. Mugabe's excuse that the process is already underway and it's not going to be rushed is not convincing because he had the period preceding the congress to make that key decision.
The lack of clarity from Mugabe's office has fuelled speculation. And the longer we wait, the more the uncertainty builds up. The last thing this country needs at the moment is uncertainty.
The fact that Mugabe is keeping quiet and not announcing a solution that the market would like is also reflected in the trajectory the economy is taking.
There are sufficient skills within the new-look central committee to find a suitable replacement for Mujuru. At the same time, Mugabe has added 10 candidates into the central committee whom he feels have the appropriate abilities to do the job.
We hope the new presidium he announces will have the requisite experience and gravitas to do the job.
The optimal situation would be to get an appointment as soon as possible. The longer the president waits, the more unnecessary speculation we will see.
Source - dailynews
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
