The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front congress set for the first week of December is already over before it has even began. According to politburo member Josiah Hungwe, only party leader President Robert Mugabe will be voted for. He will then select his own team of the two vice-presidents and national chairman. “There is no one who is going to be voted into office except the President, who should then appoint the people he wants to work with,” Hungwe was quoted in The Herald as saying. “Kwahi tichanovhoterana ikoko, kutanga riinhi? Bvunzai Muchinguri uyu, kwakatenderanwa wani munhu unovhoterwa ikoko woshara vanhu vaanoshanda navo,” he said. There has been wide-speculation that there will be bitter contests for the posts of the two vice-presidents and that of national chairman, the three top posts that are going to be contested at the party congress. Mugabe has already been endorsed as the sole presidential candidate unless someone decides to challenge him at the last minute. There have even been reports that the posts will be contested through secret ballot. Hungwe’s statement, if true, puts paid to all this. Mugabe is going to appoint his own team if he is endorsed by congress. There has been bitter in-fighting within ZANU-PF in the run up to the congress leading to the suspensions of nine provincial chairmen all accused of being pro Vice-President Joice Mujuru. First Lady Grace Mugabe has continued with her campaign against Mujuru insisting she must resign to save herself from further embarrassment. She also urged her to keep quiet because by responding, especially through the private media, she is upsetting those already urging her to step down. “Dai ndiri munhu iyeye ndaibva ndangonyarara zvangu nekuti zvimwe zvinhu unononyoresa ugonyanya kutsamwisa vanhu nekuti ndaona muHerald kuti vanhu vakagumbuka kuti who do you think you are?” she said.
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