Mutasa nominated for Zanu PF chairmanship

By Xolisani Ncube

Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa over the weekend received a major boost in his quest to land the party’s chairmanship post at the forthcoming elective congress after Manicaland nominated him.

The provincial co-ordinating committee chaired by provincial chair, John Mvundura, according to party sources, endorsed Mutasa to take over from Simon Khaya Moyo whom they said should ascend to the post of vice-president alongside Joice Mujuru.

Although Mvundura could not confirm the nominations, party sources who attended the meeting told The Zimbabwe Mail that the province nominated President Robert Mugabe for party leader, Mujuru and Moyo for first and second vice-presidents.

“We nominated Mutasa to the post of national chair, and we endorsed that President Mugabe remains leader of the party at the December congress, deputised by Amai Mujuru and Cde SK Moyo.

“We also endorsed Amai Mugabe for the post of secretary for women’s league,” said a source who attended the meeting held at Mutare Polytechnic.

Mutasa recently announced his intentions to be the next chairperson, stirring a hornet’s nest with politicians from the Matabeleland region who view the post as a preserve of ex-Zapu cadres.

Mutasa told The Zimbabwe Mail on the side-lines of a youth conference in Bulawayo that the “position of national chairperson is free and is not tied to any group, PF Zapu or Zanu PF. It is free now in terms of the unity agreement”.

His comment attracted the ire of some politburo members who viewed the announcement as an attack on the Unity Accord of 1987 which brought under one roof the two warring parties.

This is not the first province to nominate Mutasa for the post of national chair, with Masvingo having made the initial announcement.

Zanu PF provincial chair for Masvingo Killian Gwanetsa had to make a U-turn over declaration that Mutasa be elevated to the post of national chairperson, saying these were his personal views. The Zimbabwe Mail