The Zanu PF congress continued Friday with delegates attending plenary sessions focusing on the state of the party, Zimbabwe’s economy and the much-hyped five-year economic blue print – the Zimbabwe Agenda for Social and Economic Transformation (ZIMASSET).
Politburo member, Godfrey Malaba, said the outcome of discussions at the plenary sessions will be tabled Saturday before President Robert Mugabe chooses a new leadership without Vice President Joice Mujuru and her allies, who are said to have plotted to topple him.
Malaba said the president is set to choose his team while taking into consideration the unity accord signed by the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo’s PF Zapu and Zanu PF in 1987.
The future looks bleak for the deposed vice president and her colleagues, including former party spokesman Rugare Gumbo, secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa and others.
Her bitter rival, Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, said to be leading a faction of the party fighting to control it, is now believed to be having the upper hand as Mrs. Mujuru boycotted the congress.
There is a lot of speculation nationwide over who will grace the presidium, which comprises the president, his two deputies and national chairman.
Some names being tossed around for nomination to the presidium include Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, current Women’s League secretary Oppah Muchinguri, president of the Senate Ednah Madzongwe and Matabeleland political heavyweights - Eunice Sandi Moyo and former diplomats Phelekezela Mphoko, speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda and party chairman Simon Khaya Moyo.