Mugabe angles Mutasa for Zanu (PF) chair

The post is set to fall vacant at the forthcoming party’s national congress slated for next week in Harare.

Although all other posts are expected to fall vacant in theory, practically, the posts remain held by Mugabe as the party’s first secretary, while Joyce Mujuru is set to retain her post as one of the two vice presidents.

Incumbent Zanu (PF) national chairman, John Nkomo is set for elevation to the vice presidency should there be no other disturbances during congress.

Simon Khaya Moyo had been nominated for the national chairman’s post, but Mugabe reportedly annulled the decision upon return from abroad.

“President Mugabe is not happy with Moyo’s nomination to head the chairmanship. It is simply because he feels that is a powerful post that Moyo is too junior for. To the president, that post requires someone who he trusts to the extent that he would follow whatever he tells him. He believes Moyo does not fit into those shoes but Mutasa does,” said one Zanu (PF) source.

Mutasas stance has been that of a hardliner within Zanu (PF).

In an interview, Mugabe recently told state media journalists anyone wishing to contest the chairmanship was free to do so. He said Moyo’s nomination was not cast in stone.

He also castigated Matabeleland and other provinces for their rushed endorsement of Moyo saying the southerners were supposed to make a nomination only, and not to lead a string of endorsements.

Mugabe said the issue of the national chairman was not supposed to have been raised initially because what needed endorsement was the vice presidency.

“We did not put up the matter of the national chairman up for discussion,” said Mugabe, adding: “and we were surprised to hear of Khaya Moyo’s nomination as national chairman.”

The Zanu (PF) leader said “some malcontents” had rushed to announce Moyo’s nomination in the media before the party could make conclusions over the matter.

Mutasa has already thrown his hat into the ring for the national chairman’s post. –