Sandi-Moyo positions for presidium

via Sandi-Moyo positions for presidium – The Zimbabwe Independent January 22, 2016

THE proposed return of the women’s quota in Zanu PF’s presidium has sparked fresh infighting as party’s deputy secretary of the Women’s League, Eunice Sandi-Moyo pushes for the ouster of another stalwart, Angeline Masuku, who she sees as her rival should the proposals sail through, the Zimbabwe Independent has learnt.

Herbert Moyo

Sandi-Moyo is a member of Zanu PF’s politburo and deputy to the First Lady, Grace Mugabe, while Masuku is a Matabeleland South senator and senior party member in Bulawayo province who has also served as provincial governor.

The Zanu PF Women’s League had demanded in its resolutions presented at the party’s December 2015 annual conference that a woman be incorporated into the presidium by 2016, giving Mugabe only two weeks to do that. However, this did not materialise with Mugabe promising in his closing remarks that this and other resolutions will be looked into and consolidated with only the most important ones being adopted.

The move was reportedly part of a ploy by the Generation 40 (G40) group of Young Turks who are reportedly fighting Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid to succeed Mugabe. The G40 which allegedly comprises politburo members Patrick Zhuwao, Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere is said to have pushed to the very end of the conference to have Mugabe replace Mnangagwa with a woman before the latter’s faction hit back by demanding that the woman must come from the Zapu side of Zanu PF.

Following this proposal Sandi-Moyo is now seen as a frontrunner to replace Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko should the resolution be adopted.

“However, Sandi-Moyo is wary of the threat posed by Masuku who is her senior in Zapu structures although she holds a senior position in the women’s league as Grace’s (Mugabe) deputy,” said a party source.

The source said Sandi-Moyo wants to use this weekend’s provincial coordinating conference (PCC) meeting to be held at the party’s Davies Hall offices in Bulawayo to pass a vote of no confidence against Masuku whom she the believes to be her biggest threat to presidium.

“The charges against Masuku and others are still being drawn up. Indications are that she may also be accused of ignoring directives not to attend last week’s war veterans meeting in Bulawayo which was presided over by (War Veterans minister Christopher) Mutsvangwa. This is likely to be given as the reason for her suspension although the reality is that Sandi-Moyo wants her out of the way because she was more senior in the Zapu structures therefore a real threat to her ambitions for a post in the presidium,” the source added.

Masuku reportedly attended the war veterans meeting last week in Bulawayo which was presided over by Mutsvangwa despite being warned not to attend. Mutsvangwa, a staunch Mnangagwa ally has been publicly criticised by both Mugabe and Grace. Sandi-Moyo is an ally of Grace who reportedly backs the anti-Mnangagwa group in Zanu PF.

Sandi-Moyo was unreachable on her mobile phone for comment. She did not respond to text messages.