(NEWZIMBABWE) Moyo tipped for Zanu PF post

Moyo tipped for Zanu PF post
by Staff Reporter
03/10/2010 00:00:00

FORMER Information minister, professor Jonathan Moyo has emerged as an early favourite to to take over the deputy political commissar’s post in Zanu PF’s politburo following the death of Ephraim Masawi. Masawi died last Saturday and was buried at the Heroe Acre in Harare.

Speculation is rife in the party that Tsholotsho North legislator, Professor Moyo who is admired by some in the Zanu PF hierachy for his political savy but loathed by others for his vaulting ambition could be elevated to the politburo.

Moyo rejoined Zanu PF intime for the party’s congress last December and was elected into the party’s central committee.

However President Robert Mugabe left him out of the politburo, the party’s supreme decsion making body.

Party sources told the independent Standard newspaper that Masawi’s death provides an opening for Moyo to be elevated at the party’s next conference which is set for Mutare in December.

“The party had already agreed to replace Masawi with Moyo, this was after a realisation that Moyo could drum up support ahead of elections set for next year,” a source was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The December conference in not elective but Mugabe can use it to fill vacant posts in the poliburo and central committee.

However, Zanu PF spokesman, Rugare Gumbo said he was not aware of the development.

“It may be true, it may not; this is the first time I am hearing that,” he said.

If promoted, Moyo would be expected to help rebrand Zanu PF and lead the party’s strategy for the next general elections which are expectedd to be held next year.