'Naison Ndlovu not fit for VP,' claims 'former dissident' Thambolenyoka

FORMER dissident Tennyson Ndlovu says his uncle Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu is not the right candidate to succeed late Vice-President John Nkomo despite being the most senior former Zapu member still upholding the 1987 Unity Accord.

Tennyson, who used the name Thambolenyoka lihlaba elimzondayo (snake bone that spikes whoever it hates) during the Gukurahundi genocide, said his uncle had been tested in the 1980s as an MP for Insiza, but failed to initiate any form of development.

He claimed Ndlovu had failed his own family as a father.

"Khutshwekhaya is my uncle and he was an MP for Insiza for many years, but he did not bring any tangible development in our area," he told Southern Eye in an exclusive interview.

"He did not stay in Insiza when he was MP and I have now realised that appointed people do not deliver.

"When it comes to family matters, he disowns family members and how can such a person be elevated to a senior post of vice-president where he is supposed to tolerate strangers when he is not capable of loving his own family?

"Look at what Andrew Langa (Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial chairperson) did when he became MP! Insiza has developed immensely. l respect Khutshwekhaya as my uncle, but for the VP post l do not think he would be the right candidate."

Thambolenyoka, who is serving a second term as a councillor for Ward 14 which includes Fort Rixon, Makhandeni in Insiza district, told Southern Eye this week that incumbent Zanu-PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo was the most suitable candidate.

He said although Moyo was not necessarily the most senior surviving top-ranking ex-Zapu official, his current position in the ruling party and his close ties with the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, made him more suitable than those claiming seniority.

Ndlovu said Khaya Moyo was very close to the veteran nationalist and Zapu leader as his personal aide and that meant there were a lot of party secrets he knew, which even those claiming seniority knew nothing about.

"Moyo is the right person for the position of vice-president as he was the runner and secretary of the late Dr Nkomo," he said.

"Looking at former Zapu members in the politburo, Moyo is currently the highest ranked and serves in the presidium and I believe that structure positions him well for elevation.

"Yes, in terms of seniority, Khutshwekhaya is senior, but he is not in the presidium.

"When you look at a person you have for a senior post, you look at him or her position in current structures regardless of age. At the moment Moyo is senior based on current structures," he said.

He said it was surprising that some ex-Zapu members now wanted to sneak into the presidium by raising issues of seniority yet they did not contest Moyo for the chairmanship.

He felt that the current noise about the chairmanship and vice-presidency were being caused by the fact that the 1987 Unity Accord was not negotiated to ensure equal representation of the two former rival political formations.