2008 election depends on Gono say Zanu sources

buro cabinet told Zimonline Mugabe told the key committee during one of its regular weekly meetings last week that Gono was an “agent of the party” whose specific assignment was to ensure that it would have something to sell to voters should a ballot be called.
“He (Mugabe) told us as that as far as he was concerned, Gono was an agent of the party, that his (Gono) mandate was to ensure that, come 2008, there would be some stability in the economy and as a party and government we would not have to face voters empty-handed,” said one senior Zanu (PF) official.
Party spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira said the politburo had discussed several issues including the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)’s currency reforms. But he vehemently denied that the politburo had specifically discussed Gono or that Mugabe had told the party organ that the RBZ governor was now an agent of Zanu (PF).
Gono, appointed RBZ governor in 2003, is widely regarded as Mugabe’s troubleshooter on the economy. His recent currency reforms angered many Zimbabweans chiefly because of their arbitrariness, while senior leaders of Zanu (PF) and the government were angry that Gono had not consulted them or even his political boss, Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa.
There were reports in the local press that Gono and senior staff at the RBZ were receiving death threats from unknown people over the currency reforms. But Mugabe last month publicly threw his weight behind Gono and said he was aware that some people wanted him (Gono) dead.
While Mugabe could step down in 2008 as he has indicated he will, his party could still amend Zimbabwe’s Constitution to avoid having to face the electorate if it felt that whoever it eventually selects to succeed Mugabe would – for one reason or another – not fare well in an open poll.
Zanu (PF) commands enough parliamentary majority to pursue several options including postponing the poll and extending Mugabe’s current term or allowing Mugabe to step down but change the Constitution to have the next president chosen by Parliament and not in an open ballot. – ZimOnline