Mudenda outlines role in Mugabe succession

President Robert Mugabe’s succession debate is far from being settled, but Speaker of the House of Assembly Jacob Mudenda has declared he will play a central role “to administer” the power transfer when it happens.

Mudenda is said to have told a Zanu PF Matabeleland North provincial consultative meeting at the weekend that under the new Constitution, adopted at a referendum a year ago, any power handover would have to go through him.

Asked what had prompted the “explanation”, Mudenda early this week told The Zimbabwe Mail there was “nothing sinister” about it.

“Participants had asked questions regarding the role of parliament and legislators so I had to provide an explanation,” Mudenda said.

“I was also asked to give an explanation of the constitutional roles of the Speaker, that was a response and nothing more. The Speaker will make sure that parliament does those things that are demanded by the Constitution in accordance with the Standing Orders and Rules and with the assistance on the committee of parliament in charge of such. The role of the Speaker is derived from Section 135 of the Constitution.”

He added: “The president may resign his or her office by written notice to the Speaker, who must give public notice of the resignation as soon as it is possible to do so and in any event within 24 hours.”

Mudenda said his job would be to administer the process of smooth power transfer.

“That is the position of the Constitution and where I come in. Mine is to administer and make sure the Constitution is followed. I have no other role except that which is explicitly indicated in the country’s supreme law,” he said.

According to the 6th Schedule, Section 14 Sub-Section (14) (4) (b), the vacancy in the office of president must be filled by a nominee of the political party which the president represented when he or she stood for election.

Jostling for the presidency in Zanu PF has intensified with the biggest fight reportedly between Vice-President Joice Mujuru and Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The two have strenuously denied harbouring presidential ambitions despite reports across the country of underhand campaigns within party structures.

The situation has been worsened by the fact that Zanu PF is preparing for its elective congress in December and with the position of the second deputy president open following the death of John Nkomo two years ago.

Under Section 101 of the Constitution: In the event that Mugabe is incapacitated or fails to perform his duties, Mujuru is in line to take over because she is the only vice-president.

She is then supposed to appoint a vice-president and probably a second deputy. However in the event that Mujuru and Mugabe are incapacitated and there was no nominated person to act in their place then Cabinet is supposed to convene and appoint a president from among them.

Mudenda is reportedly eyeing the party chairperson’s position. Incumbent Simon Khaya Moyo, a senior minister in Cabinet and the president’s office, is earmarked to be elevated to the position of vice-president. The Zimbabwe Mail