via Politburo appoints team to stem factionalism | The Herald October 27, 2014
ZANU-PF has appointed 10 politburo members to oversee processes leading to the party’s 6th National People’s Congress in December as the revolutionary party moves to stamp out factionalism, intimidation and vote-buying. Provinces are expected to nominate candidates to fill in Central Committee positions ahead of congress and fears abound that irregularities that marred provincial elections last year and the youths and women’s leagues conferences this year could resurface.
Some senior party officials were accused of using intimidation, vote-buying and outright vote manipulation to influence the outcome of the provincial and Youth and Women’s League conferences leading to contested outcomes, that were — however — endorsed by the Politburo.
The Politburo meeting held last Friday resolved that the most senior Politburo member in each province should oversee all processes leading to the congress to ensure everything was done in a “uniform manner to avoid dissent among members.”
Observers yesterday lauded the move, saying poliburo members were respected and could not be intimidated by senior party officials as was the case with provincial chairpersons.
The politburo members will lead the Provincial Congress Coordinating Committees as they prepare for the grand event scheduled for December 02 to 07 at a Harare continue.
As nominations of candidates to the Central Committee, the party’s principal organ, nears, there are already simmering fights among Zanu-PF bigwigs in provinces that are angling for certain positions.
Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity, Cde Rugare Gumbo yesterday said Friday’s meeting had ordered the appointment of politburo members to lead the Provincial Congress Coordinating Committees to ensure there were no irregularities ahead of Congress.
Traditionally, provincial chairpersons and their structures take charge of the processes.
The 10 politburo members who will supervise the preparations are:
- Sikhanyiso Ndhlovu (Bulawayo),
- Cleveria Chizema (Harare),
- Dzikamai Mavhaire (Masvingo),
- Didymus Mutasa (Manicaland),
- Sydney Sekeramayi (Mashonaland East),
- Nicholas Goche (Mashonaland Central),
- Abigail Damasane (Matabeleland South),
- Emmerson Mnangagwa (Midlands),
- Obert Mpofu (Matabeleland North),
- Ignatius Chombo (Mashonaland West).
Said Cde Gumbo: “This is an issue which was discussed in the Politburo and the members are expected to carry out their duties diligently to avoid dissent at Congress.
“We were taking the most senior Politburo member in each province and by so doing the party believes there will be uniformity. The members are expected to oversee processes such as transport logistics, fundraising, delegates to the congress and, more importantly, the nomination of those who will get into the Central Committee.”
Cde Gumbo said provincial chairpersons would be part of the Provincial Congress Coordinating Committees.
“This is not to say that Politburo members have taken over (the running of provinces) from provincial chairpersons,” he said. “They (provincial chairpersons) will be part of the committees together with provincial chairpersons of the Youth League and the Women’s League.”
Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa commended the Politburo resolution saying it safeguarded the authority of the President.
“Politburo members are accountable to the President as they report directly to him,” he said.
“There had been many centres of power and President Mugabe’s authority was not being felt. Yanga yangova dongatonga. But such an arrangement means that there will be closer engagement between the party and President. This is a move that is also good for the membership.”
Another analyst, Goodwine Mureriwa said by so doing, the Politburo had gotten rid of provincial chairpersons, most of whom were accused of “gross indiscipline” and fanning factionalism.
“The Politburo saw what was happening and saw it best to go that way,” he said.
“Many people had become confused and were not able to express their views freely. We hope the unity of purpose we know in Zanu-PF is going to come back and elections into the Central Committee will be done in a democratic and transparent manner.”
Mr Mureriwa added: “President Mugabe should get regular briefs of what will be taking place. One hopes that the Politburo members will not again conduct their duties along factional lines but in the interest of the people. The message should just be like what happened in the run up to the 2013 harmonised elections, no imposition of people. Let them make their choices.”
At least $8 million is needed for the Congress and 12 000 people are expected to attend.
Only President Mugabe has been endorsed by the Youth League and Women’s League as the party’s First Secretary while First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe has been recommended to take over from Cde Oppah Muchinguri as sectary for women’s affairs in the Women’s League.
Senior party members have been accused of campaigning before guidelines for election into the Central Committee with Masvingo provincial chair Rtd Brigadier-General Killian Gwanetsa accused of discussing a provincial list of preferred leaders in the province.
In August, Cde Gwanetsa announced that the province had nominated national chairman Cde Simon Khaya-Moyo as Second Vice President with the secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa taking over his post.
He later claimed that it was his personal opinion not a provincial position but last Wednesday, Cde Gwanetsa was at it again as he reaffirmed Masvingo’s preferred candidates.
“As Masvingo province, we have endorsed that President Mugabe will be our candidate followed by VP Mai Mujuru and that won’t change,” he was quoted as saying during Chiredzi East legislator, Cde Denford Masiya’s election victory celebrations.
Cde Mutasa has also been accused of defying the Politburo when he attended a Provincial Coordinating Committee in Manicaland and accepted nomination as national chairman in a line-up that had President Mugabe as President and First Secretary of the party, Dr Joice Mujuru as Vice President and Second Secretary, and Cde Simon Khaya-Moyo as Second Vice President.
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