BULAWAYO – President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF party has started compiling nominations at provincial level for the party’s top leadership, with Bulawayo province re-affirming its support for chairman John Nkomo for the vice president’s post ahead of its national congress in December.

The party’s top leadership – the presidium – consists of the first secretary and president, two second secretaries and vice-presidents, and national chairman.

Mugabe’s two deputies in the party also deputise him in government but one of the vice presidents’ slots has been vacant since the August death of former vice president and liberation struggle hero Joseph Msika.

According to a circular sent out to the provinces by ZANU PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa, the country’s 10 provinces were tasked to submit nominations for the posts in the presidium by 14 November.

Analysts said the incumbents – President Robert Mugabe, Vice-President Joice Mujuru would retain the posts and tipped Nkomo fro promotion to vice president.

The nominations by the provinces are part of preparations for the party’s national congress due in December in Harare. ZANU PF holds congresses after every five years, where it selects the party’s top leadership.

The ZANU PF Bulawayo provincial coordinating committee (PCC) met at Davies Hall on Sunday to begin nominations for the presidium.

Although politburo member Sikhanyiso Ndlovu could not release the names of the presidium nominations, he told ZimOnline that the province re-affirmed its endorsement of Nkomo as vice president.

“We met earlier this month and nominated Nkomo as our candidate for the vice president’s post but we want to reassure that he is still the right man for the post. We advise other provinces to support our candidate,” said Ndlovu.

“However, we have started nominating other members of the presidium as tasked by the secretary for administration, Mutasa.”

He said there were candidates for the VP’s post from other provinces who were canvassing for support from Bulawayo province.

Former ZIPRA chief of staff Retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri has written to Matabeleland provinces, seeking support and nomination as the Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

Ndlovu fired a broadside at senior ZANU PF members who were hosting clandestine meetings in lavish hotels to buy support.

“Any secret meeting without the PCC or the provincial chairman Isaac Dakamela is illegal. We should all follow party procedure as said by the chairman (Nkomo),” he said.

“If the senior politicians want to use money, then people should just take their money and enjoy it but don’t give them support.”

There has been jostling for the vice president’s post in the past month with a number of candidates showing their interest. Among the contenders are Senate Deputy President Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu, Bulawayo Resident Minister Cain Mathema and Mutinhiri.

The Politburo will meet this week to deliberate on the vice president’s issue after the Matabeleland provinces failed to come up with one candidate.

Politburo and central committee members including deputy secretary for women affairs Eunice Sandi-Moyo, Matabeleland South Resident Minister Angelina Masuku, Bulawayo Resident Minister Mathema and Bulawayo Provincial chairman Dakamela attended Sunday’s PCC meeting. – ZimOnline