Obert Mpofu rejects Khaya Moyo for VP

ZANU-PF chairman Simon Khaya Moyo has suffered a major setback after the party's Matabeleland North province distanced itself from a meeting of ex-Zapu members that endorsed him to fill the vacant Vice-Presidency post.

Politburo member and Umguza legislator Obert Mpofu said Matabeleland North did not back Moyo and instead described a meeting that endorsed his Vice-Presidency candidature as a "clumsy kangaroo meeting of people with notorious agendas".

"We had nothing to do with that kangaroo meeting," Mpofu charged.

"How can a VP be chosen in Midlands by a group of people? It's irregular and unacceptable and as a province, we are saying we cannot be part and parcel of an irregular process."

This is the latest twist in Zanu-PF's factional wars as Vice-President Joice Mujuru and her perceived allies, Khaya Moyo being one of them, face an unprecedented purge ahead of the party's congress in about 10 days.

Khaya Moyo, considered a shoo-in for the Vice-Presidency for the best part of last year and this year, has seemingly lost a lot of ground in the race to succeed the late John Nkomo.

Zanu-PF politburo and central committee members who were in Zapu structures met in Gweru, Midlands, last year and resolved to nominate Khaya Moyo, the Senior Minister of State, for the post.

The meeting was chaired by ex-Midlands governor Cephas Msipa, who reportedly turned down suggestions that he take over from Nkomo, resulting in Khaya Moyo being nominated for the post. However, a weekend meeting of the Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial executive meeting could have pegged Moyo back, as they dissociated themselves from the endorsement.

"We are not against the characters that gathered in Midlands for that meeting," Mpofu continued. "We are against the process. It is illegitimate and clumsy. We can't have decisions passed on the province by a kangaroo meeting of people with notorious agendas. That is why we were not in attendance."

Matabeleland North provincial chairman Richard Moyo declined to comment on the outcome of the meeting, referring all questions to Mpofu.

Mpofu's politburo colleague, Msipa, organised the meeting that endorsed Khaya Moyo's candidature, although other Vice-President aspirants, Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi and former Zipra stalwart Ambrose Mutinhiri, have distanced themselves from the meeting.

Zanu-PF at the weekend reportedly proposed amendments to its constitution, which will see Mugabe appoint his deputies, further adding to the already dramatic events ahead of what was supposed to be an elective congress.