via Gumbo: Moyo does not speak for Zanu PF 28 September 2014
ZANU PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo yesterday warned party supporters and officials against being “misled” by Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Jonathan Moyo.
Gumbo said he was the only competent person to articulate the party’s position regarding the vacant Manicaland senatorial seat which had been earmarked for former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor, Gideon Gono.
The Zanu PF politburo is this week expected to decide what course of action to take after the Justice Rita Makarau-led Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) turned down Gono’s nomination to fill the vacant seat citing non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Gono last week claimed that his recent disqualification by ZEC to stand as Manicaland senator was engineered by his political detractors as part of the ongoing factional fights rocking the ruling Zanu PF party.
In response, Moyo wrote a stinging statement saying Gono was desperate to become a senator and was pointing at factionalism in the party when the legal position was clear that he did not qualify.
“The only spokesman of the party is myself. I haven’t said anything about Gono and the politburo will sit to decide the way forward. Media should not read much into the minister’s statement,” Gumbo said.
Asked if Moyo and others as well as the party’s legal department headed by Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa had offered any dissenting views during the politburo meeting that decided Gono was to be the party’s nominee, Gumbo refused to comment.
“We don’t discuss matters or deliberations of the politburo with the media and for that reason, I will not speak on what happened behind closed doors,” he said.
While Gumbo could not give a specific date, it is widely expected that the politburo could meet as early as Wednesday this week.
Zanu PF secretary of administration Didymus Mutasa was also not immediately available for comment. But he was recently quoted saying the ruling party would push for the amending of the law to accommodate Gono since the politburo had made its decision.
Gono is believed to be in Mujuru’s faction, along with Mutasa and Gumbo. He however denied it, insisting he belonged to Mugabe’s faction. On the other hand, Moyo is seen as the brains in the Mnangagwa camp.
Political analyst Ibbo Mandaza said Moyo’s statement could be read along factional lines because a legal position had been pronounced by Makarau.
“Moyo is capitalising on Makarau’s statement and trying to use it to score political points on an issue which is clearly legal and this is where factionalism comes into context,” Mandaza said.
Mugabe returned home yesterday from New York where he was attending the 69th session of the UN General Assembly and made an impassioned plea for discipline among the Zanu PF bigwigs. He said party officials were divided and openly clashing ahead of the party’s elective congress set for December.
Mugabe told hundreds of Zanu PF supporters at Harare International Airport on arrival from New York that party leaders should end their fights as the congress beckons.
Mnangagwa, who is linked to a faction that is competing against another one reportedly loyal to Vice-President Joice Mujuru in the race to succeed President Robert Mugabe, is the secretary for legal affairs.
It could not be established if Mnangagwa’s department had noted the technical flaws of the nomination before they were spelt out by Makarau. Mnangagwa’s deputy in Zanu PF is another legal guru and former Attorney-General, Patrick Chinamasa.
COMMENTS
after all, is there any law in Zim now to talk about? Truth is factionalism is the law now.
Since when did Zim-zanu-pf became a law bound creature? Moyo, for the chameleon he always is, quotes from the ‘Law Bible’ as if he believes in it, and for as long as it suits him. Just as much as the devil, himself (Satani) quotes from the “real Bible” when he wants to deceive. It’s all factionalism, factionalism, factionalism, ….. Nothing ethical, nothing truthful, …. zero.
A chameleon!!!!! eish
Assuming another party was in power and Moyo was the minister as he is now Would it have been right for him to write what he wrote.We are assuming a democracy, with rule of law, no factions. Was his pronouncement of interest to Zimbabweans? Can those in the know elighten some of us vasingazive.
ZANU peef does not either speak for Zimbabwe !!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes Revenger I do understand Zanu Pf does not speak for Zimbabwe I am just wanting to find out if as minister of media it was within his remit.
No, the matter of who fills fills in the senatorial vacancy is a party issue and Moyo s not the party spokesman.
Another Jono masterstroke! He has forced everyone to confront the constitutionality of this issue.
Suddenly its not about personalities anymore but about the supreme law. Who would dare go against the constitution.
I like Moyo for ruffling furthers, the boy has brains. He does what brings him bread on the table damn the consequences! !!!
Let us address the elephant in the room. Why did Jonathan Moyo write that statement about Gono? Was it on behalf of the government or party? Mr Gono (I really can’t call him Dr at all) had complained about party factionalism as the cause of his failure to become a senator. Naturally the response should have come from the political party concerned. As such Jonathan Moyo is not the official party spokesman and had no right to respond on it’s behalf.
We may assume that the relevant government department was obliged to respond to Gono so as to clarify the legal status. Here is the problem. ZEC is an independent institution which does not answer to any government department. Using their independence, ZEC had made a pronouncement through their chair. It would be seen as meddling for any government department to involve themselves in a matter involving an independent institution and a political party. What is more interesting, the only government department remotely connected to ZEC is the Justice department and not the Information one.
We can only reach one reasonable conclusion that Jonathan only made a statement to get back at a personal enemy but used his ministry as cover. This is something well known as abuse of power or simply put corruption. A more alert and sane leader of a government would have fired a minister who abuses his position. Sad to say some very old and frail geriatric is the boss of Jonathan and nothing will happen to him.
In making the comment he did, Gono was trying to intimidate or even bulldoze his way into the Senate. Jono in is Information brief elected to inform him to protect the intergrity of Government and the laws guiding the decision of Rita Makarau.
in his complaint gono attacked the independence of the institutions like ZEC and registrar office…… Moyo as govt spokesman has a right to speak in defence of these institutions and zimbabwe. if the politburo makes a decision and its communicated to govt Moyo can still comment if it affects the integrity of zim and its institutions