adminSenior Political Reporter
ZANU-PF National Secretary for Women Affairs Cde Oppah Muchinguri said she voluntarily handed over her the reins in the powerful wing to the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe after realising that she had reached her climax.
Cde Muchinguri took off the lid on circumstances leading to her stepping down, resulting in the Women’s League unanimously touting the First Lady Amai Mugabe as her successor.
She on Sunday told the special Zanu-PF Manicaland Provincial Co-ordination Council that convened in Mutare as a provincial electorate directorate, to vet candidates vying for positions in the national youth and women leagues that she had ran her good race and it was time for her to pave way for a new energetic cadre with fresh ideas, perspective and vision.
Cde Muchinguri did not submit her Curriculum Vitae to contest the four slots allocated to Manicaland in the national executive.
Zanu-PF provincial chairman Ambassador Dr John Shumba Mvundura said Mutasa district, which had withdrawn a candidate to pave way for Cde Muchinguri, to retract its position as the Politburo member will take up one of the two quota seats reserved for the league.
Cde Muchinguri argued that her move will rejuvenate the Women’s League.
She added that the ushering of a new broom at the league’s helm will change the tide and transform it into a more viable entity.
“If a leader has served to their potential, what value will they add to the party by clinging to a position? If I cling on a position, fully knowing that I am past my time, I will not be adding any value to the system. I have done my part and have handed over the baton to someone, to new blood, someone who can run the distance.
“We need hard-working cadres in party structures, people with a clean record.
“We do not want people who steal from the party, people who want position to safeguard their interests and divide the people. Masamba asiyana, kwete hatidi zvemiromo. Tipei vanhu vanodhonza, kwete zvefembera-fembera. (The tide has changed, No, we do not need people bent on picking fights and dividing the people. We want a new crop of leaders, women of steel who are dedicated to serving the party),” said Cde Muchinguri.
Cde Muchinguri had earlier on told the Mazowe women gathering that if President Mugabe was subjected to an election, then anyone eyeing any position in the party must be chosen through the baton.
She argued that this was the most effective way of blocking opportunists from hijacking the revolution.
Cde Muchinguri reiterated that the Women’s League was solidly behind the leadership of President Mugabe.
She castigated some ambitious hawks in the party for being impatient to the extent of wishing President Mugabe to step down for selfish reasons.
Cde Muchinguri said the Women’s League knew those destabilising Zanu-PF.
“Some didn’t want elections in 2013 saying they were working well with the MDC. Some said the President must step down because he was old. President Mugabe is an upright man. He puts the interests of others ahead of his own,” Cde Muchinguri said.
She added: “The divisions in the party do not help us. There are some who can’t wait their turn who are now saying President Mugabe must go. We know it, we know we are surrounded by schemers. We know those who are scheming. President Mugabe did not impose himself, people voted for him. We do not want people who impose themselves. There is a trend of mob psychology which will give us unelected leaders.
“President Mugabe has the mandate, everyone must be subjected to the electoral test,” she said.
Cde Muchinguri said Zanu-PF provincial elections held last year ushered the wrong people into office.
She said the elections were a shame as some people who were not even in the cells wormed their way into powerful positions.
Online Reporter