ZANU PF’s War Veterans League yesterday elected Cde Headman Moyo as Deputy Secretary for the wing’s first national executive at its inaugural elective conference yesterday.
Previously, the war veterans were an affiliate of the party, but are now a fully fledged wing of ZANU PF following the conference.
In his remarks after the election, Cde Moyo said war veterans have endorsed President Mnangagwa as the party’s sole Presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections and would hit the ground running to mobilise for the ruling party.
“This inaugural conference was a resounding success. The coordination, unity, comradeship and spirit exhibited during the course of the conference was unparalleled. We thank the war veterans for endorsing His Excellency as the sole candidate for the 2023 harmonised elections,” he said.
Cde Richard Chirongwe (Secretary for Administration), Cde Tsitsi Nyirenda (Secretary for Finance), Cde Ntombiyake Ndlovu (Secretary for Commissariat) and Cde Niya Mtombeni (Secretary for External Relations) are among notable candidates who were elected into the War Veterans League’s first national executive.
Harare’s Cde Timothy Njekete is now Secretary for Information and Publicity, while Cde Japhet Phuti was elected Secretary for Security. Cde Winnie Sihlahla is Secretary for Transport and Social Welfare.
Cde Jairo Mapungwana was elected Secretary for Legal and Women’s Rights and Cde Lazarus Takawira is the Secretary for Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment.
Announcing the results of the War Veterans League, ZANU PF Political Commissar Cde Mike Bimha said: “The Department is pleased to report that out of the 40 candidates from the 10 provinces, 17 are female, representing a 42,5 percent female factor. Three female members made it into the top 10 of the National Executive Council, representing a 30 percent female factor,” he said.
Other elected members are Secretary for Production and Labour Cde Adwell Bonde, while Cde Ellen Chinamatira is Secretary for Health and Child Welfare and the Elderly.
Cde Bruce Mateta was elected Secretary for Economic Affairs, with Cde Edith Kagoro taking up the post of Secretary for Education.
The Secretary for Gender and Culture is Cde Virginia Mupasu, while Cde Sehlule Jele is the Secretary for Welfare of the Disabled and Disadvantaged Persons. Cde Majaha Ncube is Secretary for Land Reform and Resettlement.
The remaining members of the executive are Cde Langton Nyemba (Secretary for Science and Technology), Cde Everisto Pfumvuti (Secretary for Business Development and Liaison), Cde Zenzo Ncube (Secretary for Environment and Tourism) and Cde Happiness Sibanda (Committee Member).
The Secretary for War Veterans’ Affairs is appointed by the party’s First Secretary, President Mnangagwa.
This comes after ZANU PF Bulawayo Province, last week, endorsed President Mnangagwa as the sole candidate in next year’s harmonised national elections and as the party’s First Secretary and President ahead of its 7th Congress in October.
The congress will be held at the Robert Mugabe Square in Harare from 26 to 29 October.
The party’s provincial chairperson for Matabeleland South, Cde Mangaliso Ndlovu, said they have already taken a position to confirm President Mnangagwa’s candidature although the provincial structures are yet to meet.
“We have already taken a position to endorse President Mnangagwa as the sole candidate in the 2023 harmonised elections and the party’s First Secretary and President ahead of our 7th Congress in October. However, the provincial inter-district meeting will come up with the resolution,” he said.
Meanwhile, the move by war veterans to endorse Mnangagwa has been interpreted as a calculated move to frustrate Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who is strongly believed to be highly ambitious and gunning for the top job.
Mnangagwa is locked in a cut-throat battle with Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga over the party’s unresolved leadership issue following the toppling of the late former president Robert Mugabe.
Inside sources said after Mnangagwa reneged on the deal with Chiwenga prior to the November 2017 military coup that ousted the late former president Robert Mugabe to serve only one term and allow his deputy to come in 2023, gloves are now off within the ruling party over unresolved leadership issues.
“The fallout within the party leadership is serious. We are heading for battle royale between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga ahead of congress,” a source said.
“That is how politics within Zanu PF and state institutions is currently shaping up. The unresolved leadership question can no longer be managed and swept under the carpet; it has got to be settled politically, and that means through congress.”
The source added: “When Mnangagwa took over, there was a clear understanding that he will not seek re-election in 2023. However, Chiwenga and others were shocked to see him telling the world in an interview in September 2018 during the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York that he would seek re-election in 2023. That was never agreed.”
After that, Mnangagwa and his allies moved a gear up and launched a campaign during the December 2018 Zanu PF conference at Mzingwane High School in Esigodini for him to serve two terms.
“At that time, it became clear Mnangagwa had broken ranks and reneged on the deal,” another source said.
— Sunday Mail/Herald/NewsHawks
