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Nduduzo Tshuma, Political Editor
ZANU-PF Matabeleland North has thrown its weight behind the status of President Mugabe as one centre of power in the ruling party with the mandate to appoint his deputies and members of the Politburo.

Party provincial chairperson, Cde Richard Moyo said the support for the one centre of power principle was included in the structure’s list of resolutions ahead of the 16th Annual People’s Conference to be held in Masvingo next week.

He said the principle, adopted at the 6th National People’s Congress in December 2014, was still relevant and an effective way to deal with divisions in the party.

“We reiterated in our resolutions that as we agreed at the 2014 congress, President Mugabe remains one centre of power.The concept prevents unnecessary headaches and divisions in the party as the President is empowered to appoint his two deputies and Politburo members  as opposed to members voting,” said Cde Moyo.

He said the province had also endorsed President Mugabe as the Zanu PF candidate for the 2018 elections.

“We also endorsed President Mugabe as the party candidate in the 2018 elections. He has led the party in successive electoral victories and we have confidence that he will do it again for the party in 2018,” said Cde Moyo.

Last month, our sister paper The Herald reported that Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central acting provincial chairman Cde Dickson Mafios backtracked on his attempt to pass a controversial resolution that sought to strip President Mugabe of his status as the one centre of power in the party with the mandate to appoint his two deputies.

It was further reported that, under pressure from provincial and district executive members who accused him of smuggling in the controversial resolution, Cde Mafios and his brother who is also Zanu-PF national commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, called for an extraordinary provincial coordinating committee meeting and claimed the resolution was for the 2019 congress.

This is despite the fact that the meeting at which the ‘Mafioso resolution’’ was read had been called to discuss resolutions for the forthcoming 16th National Annual People’s Conference to be held in Masvingo next week.

Cde Moyo said preparations for the conference were at an advanced stage with all delegates from the provinces having been accredited.

“We have also arranged transport for delegates who will be going to the conference next week. Each district has its own bus that will ferry delegates,” he said.

The conference will run from December 13 to 17.