WAR Veterans, a key power broker in Zanu PF, have amplified their
calls for the party to appoint one of their own as national commissar and for
the re-adoption of the women’s quota system in the presidium.
*Grace Mugabe (pix:Independent)
Crucially however, the ex-fighters made it
clear that President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace, should remain where she is up
“to 2018 and beyond”, suggesting they would not back her as party leader.
Grace heads the party’s Women’s League but is
widely thought to be angling to take over from her soon-to-be 92 husband.
The Matabeleland and Bulawayo
In a resolution which they said reflected the
ZNLWVA national executive’s will, the war veterans demanded that “the political
commissariat post of the party (Zanu –PF) be held by war veteran members with
good revolutionary credentials.”
Since assuming this influential party position
Kasukuwere, who is also a local government minister, has been on a collision
course with war veterans, especially their leader Christopher Mutsvangwa.
Kasukuwere and Mutsvangwa have fallen out with
both individuals reportedly plotting the ouster of the other from their
influential and powerful positions.
President Mugabe and wife, Grace
Kasukuwere is reportedly fronting a faction of
the party known as the Generation 40 (G40) while Mutsvangwa is said to be
sympathetic to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The G40 is also believed to be pushing for the
elevation of Grace Mugabe, to be part of the presidium and potential successor
to her aging husband.
Japhet Phuti, the ZNLWVA national secretary,
said they also support the return of the women quota, under which a seat should
be reserved for a female in the presidium.
“We also support the women’s league statement,
that women should have a quota in the presidium and be maintained on rotational
basis and now should go to Ex-ZAPU/ZIPRA members,” said Phuthi.
This could present Vice President Mphoko with
headaches as he was appointed into the presidium via a Zapu ticket, as per the
agreement in the 1987 Unity Accord.
Phuthi said they also resolved that the
secretary for lands post, “be held by a member with war credentials, as
everyone knows the core fundamental of the liberation struggle (sic).”
While supporting the elevation of a female member of the party
into the presidium, the war veterans, however, said they support “Grace Mugabe
to remain the secretary for women’s league up to 2018 and beyond.”
Phuthi said they were worried about the
continuous victimisation of their members and that divisions continue to affect
the party.
These resolutions are set to be presented at
the party’s national conference which officially starts on Friday, in Victoria Falls .
The war veterans said they supported the leadership
of President Robert Mugabe and also endorsed him as the party’s presidential
candidate in the 2018 national elections.
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