adminFORMER legislator for Makoni East Cde Shadreck Tongesai Chipanga has bounced back into public office following his confirmation as Senator for Manicaland.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Justice Rita Makarau made the announcement in the Government Gazette last Friday in terms of Section 39 (7) (a) of the Electoral Act Chapter 2:13.
Cde Chipanga, one of the initiators of the grave political struggle against a minority Ian Douglas Smith regime, replaces Cde Kumbirai Kangai, who died in 2013 and was declared a national hero. Cde Chipanga, who is the former Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) boss and former Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, was on the Zanu-PF list of male senators that consisted of the likes of Cdes Kangai and Michael Nyambuya.
From the votes cast, Zanu-PF got two slots for male senators, Cde Kangai and Cde Nyambuya.
However, Cde Chipanga’s ascendency to the Upper House following Cde Kangai’s death was not smooth as the then Zanu-PF secretary for administration, Mr Didymus Mutasa, threw spanners into the works.
The veteran freedom fighter should have replaced Cde Kangai last year, but Mr Mutasa, with whom he had fallen out of favour, shifted goal posts by touting for former Reserve Bank Governor Dr Gideon Gono.
ZEC rejected Dr Gono’s nomination saying he was not a registered voter in Manicaland.
Cde Chipanga’s confirmation effectively locks out Dr Gono.
“I am happy that justice has finally prevailed.
“The journey has been long and winding, but I am happy to have finally gotten there.
“It took a lot of patience, humility and adherence to party principles, values and philosophy. I want to thank all those who stood by me throughout the lengthy process,” said Cde Chipanga.
Cde Chipanga’s political journey could be traced as far back as 1962 when he joined the political fray as the first Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) national youth leader.
Online Reporter