Harare — PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday announced a new Zanu-PF Politburo that contains a few surprises while a number of the old guard have been retained in an expanded organ with more committee members.

Opening an extraordinary session of the Central Committee at Zanu-PF Headquarters in Harare yesterday, the First Secretary and President of the party said the Presidium had given due regard to the state of the party and challenges it was facing in coming up with the Politburo.

Former committee member Cde Webster Shamu is now secretary for the commissariat.

He has the onerous task of mobilising and reinvigorating party structures.

Cde Shamu will be deputised by former deputy party spokesperson Cde Ephraim Masawi.

Former deputy secretary for administration Cde Rugare Gumbo takes over the information and publicity department from Cde Nathan Shamuyarira and he will be deputised by Cde Cain Mathema.

Cde Mathema is a career journalist and author.

Cde Shamuyarira becomes a committee member.

Cde Dzikamai Mavhaire rose to take over the department of production and labour, while Cde Obert Mpofu and Cde David Parirenyatwa were appointed to head the economic affairs and health and child welfare departments, respectively.

Former deputy secretary for youth affairs Cde Saviour Kasukuwere takes over the indigenisation and economic empowerment portfolio that was left vacant following national hero Cde Vitalis Zvinavashe's death last year.

Cde Abigail Damasane heads the gender and culture department.

Cde Sithembiso Nyoni and Cde Francis Nhema have been appointed to the new portfolios of business development and liaison, and environment and tourism respectively.

Members who retained their positions are Cde Didymus Mutasa (administration), Cde David Karimanzira (finance), Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa (legal affairs), Cde Oppah Muchinguri (women's affairs), Cde Absolom Sikhosana (youth affairs), Cde Ignatius Chombo (land reform and resettlement), Cde Stanley Sakupwanya (welfare of the disabled and disadvantaged persons) and Cde Olivia Muchena (science and technology).

Some Politburo members that have moved portfolios are Cde Sydney Sekeramayi (national security); Cde Stan Mudenge (external relations) and Cde Nicholas Goche (transport and welfare).

New and returning Politburo members include Cde Edson Ncube (deputy secretary for administration), Cde Charles Tawengwa (deputy, finance); Cde Abednico Ncube (deputy, external relations); Cde Samuel Mugande (deputy, transport and welfare); Cde Patrick Chinamasa (deputy, legal affairs); Cde Richard Ndlovu (deputy, production and labour), Cde Eunice Sandi-Moyo (deputy, women's affairs); Cde Eddison Chakanyuka (deputy, youth affairs) and Cde Lazarus Dokora (deputy, education).

Cde Kudakwashe Bhasikiti (deputy, economic affairs); Cde Douglas Mombeshora (deputy, health and child welfare), Cde Tendai Savanhu (deputy, indigenisation and economic empowerment); Cde S. Mukusha (deputy, gender and culture); Cde Herbert Murerwa (deputy, land and resettlement), Cde Joshua Malinga (deputy, disabled and disadvantaged persons), Cde Patrick Zhuwao (deputy, science and technology), Cde James Gumpo (deputy, business development and liaison) and Cde Nelson Mawema (deputy, environment and tourism).

Committee members include Cdes Solomon Mujuru, Tsitsi Muzenda, Victoria Chitepo, Kumbirai Kangai, A. Chimbudzi, Nathan Shamuyarira, Naison Ndlovu, Thokozile Mathuthu, Angeline Masuku, Khantibai Patel, Tshinga Dube, Munacho Mutezo, Cephas Msipa, Josiah Hungwe, Jacob

Mudenda, Flora Bhuka, Cliveria Chizema, Edna Madzongwe and O. Maluleke.

President Mugabe said the new Politburo had to tackle a number of issues.

"We have to re-organise all our people so they remain in a state of permanent readiness. We have the constitution-making process, which is already underway.

"There are crucial issues to be decided through that process. Persistent attempts by outsiders at influencing matters being handled under the constitution-making process need to be warded off. What is the interest of these powerful outsiders in the writing of our constitution?"

President Mugabe said Zanu-PF needed structures that were in touch with developments.

"The ideological side of our party needs revamping so we are able to be a party which defines issues, debates emerging ones, indeed, one which places new matters on the national table.

"The party needs a strong underpinning on policy issues and we shall be making further proposals.

"We are a national party and all our people must identify with the structures we create and persons assigned to man them.

"Once Zanu-PF is divided or any of its organs is faulted on whatever grounds, a negative message is transmitted in our nation.

"We cannot be all leaders at one time. What is more, there are no persons who are more leaders than others in the party. What we have are persons wielding higher responsibilities for which more is expected out of them.

"It is a call to serve, never an opportunity for flaunting imagined power. The power rests with the people and the party emerging from the organisation.

"We have huge duties to discharge, bigger battles to fight, great wars to win. And victors do not bicker."

The announcement of the new political bureau was deferred at the Fifth National People's Conference in December 2009 to allow for more consultations.

The Presidium consists of First Secretary and President Cde Mugabe; Second Secretaries and Vice Presidents Cdes Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo; and National Chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo.