Jostling for Cabinet posts commences

Politics
Jostling for Cabinet positions has already started in Zanu PF, after the party secured two-thirds majority in parliament, sources in the party said.

Jostling for Cabinet positions has already started in Zanu PF, after the party secured two-thirds majority in parliament, sources in the party said.

BY PATRICE MAKOVA

They said the different factions in the party were busy positioning their members for strategic positions in government, after a shocking Zanu PF landslide victory last week left many cabinet positions occupied by the MDC formations vacant.

An official close to the party said that serious lobbying was underway with some aspiring Cabinet ministers literally kneeling before members of the presidium, particularly Vice President Joice Mujuru, begging for appointment.

Some were said to be now frequenting traditional healers and “prophets” in a desperate bid to boost their chances, the source said.

“Mugabe [President Robert Mugabe] is going to have headaches over the composition of his Cabinet. The different factions feel that several of their members are deserving cases in as far as appointment to Cabinet is concerned,” said the Zanu PF official.

Another official said many ministers in the outgoing government of national unity (GNU) would not get their portfolios.

The official said strong fights were on portfolios such as defence, mines, local government and indigenisation.

He said a faction aligned to Mujuru was of the feeling that some of its loyalists such as politburo member, Tendai Savanhu who won the Mbare seat deserved a strategic ministry.

The official said Mugabe was also in a quandary over the appointment of the second vice president, after the death of John Landa Nkomo in January.

He said the victory of Zanu PF’s national chairman, Simon Khaya-Moyo had effectively put an end to a possible bid by Obert Mpofu to succeed Nkomo.

“Moyo by securing a Zanu PF win in Matabeleland South is now saying to Mpofu I have more people than you have in Matabeleland North”, said the official.

He said in case Mugabe failed to finish his term of office, parliament would choose a successor.

The source said constitutional amendments were already being mulled, which will ensure that the MDC’s do not “resurrect”.

On Friday Justice minister, Patrick Chinamasa confirmed that after securing two thirds majority in parliament, Zanu PF would make some amendments to the Constitution.

Each province is expected to provide three or four cabinet ministers. Efforts to get a comment from Zanu PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo were fruitless yesterday, as his mobile was not reachable.

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