Finance minister Mthuli Ncube has received waiver to run in the Zanu PF’s central committee elections and will not be subjected to the minimum requirements set by the party to run in the elections, Zanu PF has said.
This comes after a host of current and former ministers applied to run in the central committee elections that takes place across the country on Saturday and Sunday.
Addressing the media on Friday, Zanu PF political commissar Mike Bimha said a number of Zanu PF members were locked out for failing to meet the set criteria of serving the party for 15 consecutive years.
“You might find that we had a number of ministers — current ministers (and) former ministers who had applied, but who did not meet the requirements in terms of the 15 years, five years, but who now had to seek waivers. Mthuli (Ncube) is an example, he has now been afforded the waiver, he will be standing for election in the Bulawayo province. You had Sekai Nzenza, who has also been allowed to stand in Mashonaland East. You also have former Minister of Health, Obadiah Moyo, who is also going to stand in Harare,” Bimha said.
The central committee is Zanu PF’s highest decision-making body in-between congresses.
“You also have those who have been disqualified because there (was) additional information to the point that probably they are not in good standing in terms of their activities — some who might not really (be) moving with us, who might probably be Zanu PF during day time and opposition during the night,” Bimha said.
Those who were disqualified but later approved by the Politburo are Flora Buka, Terence Mukupe, Bright Matonga, Muchareva Chamisa, Jabulani Mbetu, Tshetshe Mguni, Nyararai Sibanda and Sindiso Ndlovu, Raymond Machingura, Patricia Kuhlande among others.
Former Zanu Ndonga members were also given a nod to contest for Central Committee positions in Manicaland namely Veryson Muteya, Sibiya Charity, Chido Madiwa, Wilson Khumbula, Munodawafa Chipinge, Muzanamo Kanganisai.
Some of the members who were disqualified by the Politburo are George Makunde, Manal Motsi, Alec Nyakuwara, Tapera Table, Caleb Makwiranzou, Susan Chuma, Obey Taronga Mapiki.
Kanisio Dengu and Christopher Chingwaru from Mashonaland Central withdrew from the race.
The Zanu PF Central Committee elections precedes the party’s elective congress at the end of month.
The Central Committee, is the highest decision-making body outside Congress and members are contesting for 304 Central Committee positions.
Speaking at a post-successive Politburo meetings held on Wednesday and Thursday night, Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said the party is re-tooling the Central Committee structure.
“We are now putting the nail on the last most important institution of the party.
“When all the organs are in place, the machinery for elections has been retooled, we are going to endorse our President as the sole candidate at the congress. That is what is coming from the organs of the party. Our democracy comes from building up from the grassroots level. It is not top-down, it is a top-up approach. We are going to endorse our President as a sole candidate for 2023 harmonised elections and thereafter we oil the machinery for elections,” said Mutsvangwa.
