l election falls within the tenure of a sitting Zanu (PF) president, that incumbent automatically becomes the ruling party candidate in national polls. Mugabe was elected Zanu (PF) president at the 2004 congress and his term is expected to run until 2009.
According to the ruling party constitution, he becomes the automatic candidate when the party goes to the annual conference to select the candidate that will represent the party in the 2008 presidential poll.
The Zimbabwean heard that there was clique of Young Turks in the party who will push for an amendment of the constitution, on the basis that the presidential troika was ageing except for second Vice President Joice Mujuru.
Mugabe is 83 while his deputy Joseph Msika is 84.
The sources said it was now up to Mugabe to announce whether he will run again in 2008 but some felt that decision could not be left to him alone and were agitating for Zanu (PF)’s constitution to be changed.
Their suggestion was that Zanu (PF)’s constitution should be amended to allow any party member interested in contesting the state presidential election to do so without necessarily standing for the party’s leadership. The amendments are aimed at positioning senior party officials to stand for presidential elections without necessarily being party president.
The plan is understood to have the support of many in the Central Committee and there was massive behind’the’scenes lobbying to push through the amendments at the December conference. According to the sources, the proposed amendments are also meant to pressure Mugabe to pave the way for a new Zanu (PF) candidate to contest the 2008 presidential elections while Mugabe stays on as head of the party.
The amendment is also likely to pour cold water on Mugabe’s envisaged plan to anoint a successor.
Zanu (PF) spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira said the principal organ of the ruling party was yet to meet to draft the agenda for the conference.
“Talk to (Legal Affairs secretary Patrick) Chinamasa about anything to do with amendments to the constitution,” Shamuyarira said.
Chinamasa was not immediately available for comment.
The Zimbabweans understands that there was growing consensus within the party that Mugabe has to go into dignified retirement to save the party from an embarrassing and crushing defeat by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Many party members felt that the ruling party had a better chance to win the presidential election with a new and untainted candidate. Mugabe, however, still commands considerable support among the party’s rank and file, the Women’s League and its rampaging war veterans, and senior ruling party officials fear he may be tempted by this backing to run again in the March poll.
Post published in: News