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VP Mujuru

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
VICE President Joice Mujuru yesterday failed to attend the opening day of zanu-pf’s 6th National People’s Congress that kicked off with the sitting of the Politburo at the party’s headquarters.

It is the second time in as many weeks that the embattled Vice President has missed the Politburo, having failed to attend last week’s session.

Apart from VP Mujuru, secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa and secretary for transport and welfare Cde Nicholas Goche were also not present at yesterday’s meeting.

VP Mujuru, Cde Mutasa and Cde Goche are said to be the brains behind the plot to assassinate President Mugabe.

While reasons for the absence of VP Mujuru were not revealed yesterday, Cde Mutasa is understood to be in South Africa for treatment, while Cde Goche is admitted at a private hospital in Harare.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, zanu-pf National Chairman and acting Secretary for Information and Publicity said chairmen of various Provincial Co-ordinating Committees had also presented names of people that were nominated to the Central Committee.

“The list of names as amended where applicable, would be presented to the Central Committee tomorrow for adoption,” he said.

“On Matabeleland North the Politburo took a position that Cdes Jacob Mudenda, Sithembiso Nyoni and Fathi Mpofu remain on the Central Committee list as presented by the Matabeleland North PCC.”

Apart from the three, Cdes Tshatha Mguni and Elias Mavule who had been booted out at the inter-district meeting in Lupane on Saturday, were also restored to the Central Committee list.

The five officials were ousted at a chaotic meeting held in Lupane with Politburo member Cde Obert Mpofu being accused of instigating the move after dozens of zanu-pf supporters from his Umguza constituency demonstrated at the venue while police had to be called in to maintain order.

Cde Khaya Moyo said the Politburo also nullified provincial elections held in Masvingo to choose a new substantive executive last weekend.

“The Politburo has declared null and void the elections for a new provincial executive held in Masvingo this last weekend. The Politburo has directed further that Cde (Paradzai) Chakona remains acting chairman and will lead the province to Congress,” he said.

Cde Pupurai Togarepi had been elected substantive chairman following the vote of no confidence passed on the former chairman Brigadier General Kallisto Gwanetsa (Retired) for fanning factionalism and undermining the authority of the President.

Sources that attended yesterday meeting also said the Politburo dismissed attempts by the Matabeleland South Provincial Coordinating Committee to remove Cde Khaya Moyo and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Abednico Ncube from the Central Committee list.

The duo was accused of aligning themselves with VP Mujuru in her attempts to topple the President among other charges.

The Politburo dismissed the allegations as baseless and mischievous.

Meanwhile Cde Khaya also said everything was in place for a successful Congress.

“The Politburo met today and deliberated on the preparations for the 6th National People’s Congress. You will be aware that His Excellency President Robert Mugabe visited the Congress venue yesterday. The First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe honoured us by visiting the conference venue today.

“I can confirm that the preparations for the Congress are now complete and the delegates start arriving tomorrow (today). It’s really all systems go and we are all excited about the development and I am predicting that this would be the best Congress ever,” Cde Khaya Moyo said.

Congress enters its second day today with the sitting of the Central Committee were the Central Committee report will be tabled.