Shamu’s ‘coup’ sparks outrage Cde Shamu
Cde Shamu

Cde Shamu

Herald Reporters
THE introduction of Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration and Minister of State for Presidential Affairs  Cde Didymus Mutasa as the acting national chairman by Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Webster Shamu (pictured left) at the commemoration of the ruling Zanu-PF’s July 31, 2013 landslide victory has  sparked outrage within the party.

The introduction came as a surprise to many considering that Cde Mutasa is eyeing the position of national chairman at the party’s elective Congress in December.
While making the introduction, Cde Shamu said Cde Mutasa was the acting national chairman and was “acting finance” and a minister in the President’s Office.
Cde Shamu went on to jokingly remark that Cde Mutasa was acting in too many capacities.

National chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday said a person could only be appointed in an acting capacity when the substantive holder of that position is out of the country.

Such appointments, he said, were made by the President.
“I was in the country and such appointments are only made when one is out of the country,” Cde Khaya Moyo said. “When you are out of the country, obviously the President can appoint someone to act.”

Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo, who was present at the function, said Cde Mutasa was only acting for the event that was held at State House.
He said there was nothing amiss about the introduction made by Cde Shamu because Cde Mutasa at times chaired meetings in the absence of Cde Khaya Moyo, the national chairman.

“He (Cde Mutasa) was the acting chairman at that function and in the absence of Cde Khaya Moyo he chairs meetings,” he said. “There was nothing wrong about that.”

Cde Gumbo’s sentiments were, however, dismissed by several party members who said claiming that Cde Mutasa chaired meetings in Cde Khaya Moyo’s absence was a no brainer in this case given that this was not the national chairman’s function but the President’s function.

Contacted for comment, Cde Shamu said he introduced Cde Mutasa as the acting national chairman because he was doing so for the particular event only in the absence of Cde Khaya Moyo.

Cde Mutasa, he said, was the second in command in the national elections directorate which organised the victory celebration event.
“Cde Khaya Moyo said he was not there, so report to Cde Mutasa,” he said. “When we are at the party level Cde Mutasa chairs the national elections directorate in the absence of Cde Khaya Moyo.”

When told that his remarks had caused concern within the party, Cde Shamu then said reporters did not clearly capture what he said.
“I introduced Cde Mutasa as the acting secretary for finance and that he is also secretary for administration and then I went on to indicate that national chairman Cde Khaya Moyo was not around,” he said. “So people perhaps thought that I had also said he was acting national chairman because of the sequence.”

Zanu-PF is set to hold its elective Congress in December, and the Congress will be preceded by the Youths and Women’s League Conferences scheduled for this month.

You Might Also Like

Comments