Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Lloyd Gumbo
6 November 2009
Harare — Former PF-Zapu members who sit in Zanu-PF's Central Committee met in Bulawayo yesterday and nominated national chairman Cde John Nkomo to fill the post of Vice President and Second Secretary left vacant following the death of veteran nationalist and hero Cde Joseph Msika in August.
According to a party source, Deputy Senate President Cde Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu, who had expressed interest in the post, was nominated to take over as party national chairman.
According to the 1987 Unity Accord, the two positions, as well as that of Home Affairs Minister, will be filled by cadres who belonged to PF-Zapu before the merger with Zanu-PF.
Speaking on condition of anonymity after yesterday's meeting, a former senior PF-Zapu and Central Committee member said Cdes Nkomo and Ndlovu were unanimously endorsed as the candidates of choice.
"All the Central Committee members who attended the meeting unanimously endorsed Cde John Nkomo as VP and Cde Naison Ndlovu as the party national chairman.
"This was the best meeting we have ever had. We hope other groups will take a leaf from this and we are proud that this nomination had good representation from all the provinces.
"We are there to give an advisory opinion to other provinces and we are sure the other provinces are going to rubber-stamp our decision," the source said.
In an interview last night, Zanu-PF's acting political commissar, Cde Richard Ndlovu -- who presided over the meeting -- could neither confirm nor deny that Cdes Nkomo and Ndlovu had been nominated.
He simply said one name had been agreed on for the VP post and similarly for that of national chairman.
Cde Ndlovu said the candidates were nominated in line with the 1987 Unity Accord and everyone was satisfied with the outcome.
"We were consulting on who we want to assume the Vice President's position and the national chairman and we all agreed on the candidates.
"However, I can't divulge their names at the moment because it will be premature at this stage. I can only confirm that the nominations were unanimous.
"The meeting was very cordial and everyone was happy with the nominations and we believe the other provinces will consider our nominations because this was in line with the Unity Accord," he said.
Cde Ndlovu said former PF-Zapu Central Committee members from all the 10 provinces graced the occasion and those who failed to attend sent solidarity messages.
He said the nominations would be done on November 14, but the names would only be revealed at December's national congress.
"All former PF-Zapu Central Committee members from all the provinces attended the consultative meeting and we spoke with one voice. Nominations by other provinces will be done on November 14 but the names are only going to be made public at congress.
"This meeting was part of our consultations and so far we are on track, but the final nominations will be done by all provinces," Cde Ndlovu said.
Zanu-PF's Politburo last week directed former PF-Zapu members sitting in the Central Committee to consult and nominate a candidate of their choice to fill the vacant post.
The decision was in line with an understanding following the Unity Accord that one of the two Vice Presidents should come from the most senior surviving member of the former PF-Zapu still holding a senior post in Zanu-PF.
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