Latest on VP Joice Mujuru to succeed President Mugabe: Politburo endorses
VICE-PRESIDENT Joice Mujuru has virtually secured a copper-bottomed
guarantee to take over as the next president of Zimbabwe in the event
that President Robert Mugabe resigns, is incapacitated or dies in
office, provided he wins the next elections, it has emerged.
Senior Zanu PF politburo members said this week, barring unforeseen events and circumstances, Mujuru was almost assured of taking over from Mugabe if she wins the party leadership at congress next year.
A top politburo member said this week the succession issue was virtually dealt with by Zanu PF's senior leadership during marathon meetings last year when the party was discussing the Copac draft constitution.
During the lengthy meetings - which cumulatively lasted 50 hours and at which Zanu PF made wholesale amendments to the Copac draft constitution - the politburo tacitly endorsed Mujuru as the likeliest person to succeed Mugabe by secretly agreeing the most senior official of the party would take over from the president in the event he leaves office for whatever reason.
The politburo meetings, held between June and September last year, made extensive amendments to the draft constitution but the most important change was a provision on succession at the national level.
Realising Mugabe would be 89 and frail, the Zanu PF politburo made a contingency plan to ensure that his departure for whatever reasons would not negatively affect the party.
"We proposed the removal of the clause on the running mates and suggested that when the president retires or dies in office after he is re-elected, he would be replaced by a person from the same party," the senior politburo member said.
"We then agreed as a party at those meetings that the most senior person in the party will immediately take over as president of the country. We were all in agreement on that and this is contained in the minutes of those politburo meetings. This means as things stand Mai Mujuru is the person to take over because she is the most senior official in the party."
According to the 54-member politburo's official ranking revised list provided to the Zimbabwe Independent this week, Mugabe is at the helm of the party, followed by Mujuru (2), then a vacant second vice-president position after the death of John Nkomo (3), Simon Khaya Moyo (4), Didymus Mutasa (5), David Karimanzira (late) (6), Webster Shamu (7), Sydney Sekeramayi (8), Stan Mudenge (late) (9), Rugare Gumbo (10), Nicholas Goche (11), Emmerson Mnangagwa (12), Dzikamai Mavhaire (13), Oppah Muchinguri (14), Absolom Sikhosana (15), Sikhanyiso Ndlovu (16), Obert Mpofu (17), David Parirenyatwa (18), Saviour Kasukuwere (19), Abigail Damasane (20), Ignatius Chombo (21), Stanley Sakupwanya (22) Olivia Muchena (23), Sithembiso Nyoni (24) and Francis Nhema (25).
The politburo also has 10 deputies and 19 committee members.
Senior Zanu PF politburo members said this week, barring unforeseen events and circumstances, Mujuru was almost assured of taking over from Mugabe if she wins the party leadership at congress next year.
A top politburo member said this week the succession issue was virtually dealt with by Zanu PF's senior leadership during marathon meetings last year when the party was discussing the Copac draft constitution.
During the lengthy meetings - which cumulatively lasted 50 hours and at which Zanu PF made wholesale amendments to the Copac draft constitution - the politburo tacitly endorsed Mujuru as the likeliest person to succeed Mugabe by secretly agreeing the most senior official of the party would take over from the president in the event he leaves office for whatever reason.
The politburo meetings, held between June and September last year, made extensive amendments to the draft constitution but the most important change was a provision on succession at the national level.
Realising Mugabe would be 89 and frail, the Zanu PF politburo made a contingency plan to ensure that his departure for whatever reasons would not negatively affect the party.
"We proposed the removal of the clause on the running mates and suggested that when the president retires or dies in office after he is re-elected, he would be replaced by a person from the same party," the senior politburo member said.
"We then agreed as a party at those meetings that the most senior person in the party will immediately take over as president of the country. We were all in agreement on that and this is contained in the minutes of those politburo meetings. This means as things stand Mai Mujuru is the person to take over because she is the most senior official in the party."
According to the 54-member politburo's official ranking revised list provided to the Zimbabwe Independent this week, Mugabe is at the helm of the party, followed by Mujuru (2), then a vacant second vice-president position after the death of John Nkomo (3), Simon Khaya Moyo (4), Didymus Mutasa (5), David Karimanzira (late) (6), Webster Shamu (7), Sydney Sekeramayi (8), Stan Mudenge (late) (9), Rugare Gumbo (10), Nicholas Goche (11), Emmerson Mnangagwa (12), Dzikamai Mavhaire (13), Oppah Muchinguri (14), Absolom Sikhosana (15), Sikhanyiso Ndlovu (16), Obert Mpofu (17), David Parirenyatwa (18), Saviour Kasukuwere (19), Abigail Damasane (20), Ignatius Chombo (21), Stanley Sakupwanya (22) Olivia Muchena (23), Sithembiso Nyoni (24) and Francis Nhema (25).
The politburo also has 10 deputies and 19 committee members.
source:myzimbabwe.co.zw
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