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As the curtain comes down today on the 7th ZanuPF national congress which has seen some Central Committee members finally call it a day on meetings that began Thursday and as expected heavily Endorsed President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa as their sole 2023 candidate, Mnangagwa is later expected to pick new ‘surprise’ Zanu PF Politburo through a Constitution rejigged to create additional portfolios.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is also Zanu PF First Secretary is touted to make shock new entries into the Politburo for ICT Minister, Jenfan Muswere of Manicaland who is tipped for the technology portfolio owing to his unparalleled astute professional competencies and experience as well as newly elected Bulawayo Central Committee member and treasury chief, Mthuli Ncube, who will likely land the finance secretary post traditionally held by Patrick Chinamasa.
President Mnangagwa, sources said, would keep his two party deputies, Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, in their respective posts.
Article 8 of the Zanu PF Constitution, says immediately after election of the President and first secretary and members of the Central Committee, the President shall appoint from the newly-elected Central Committee two vice-presidents and second secretaries, the national chairperson, heads of departments of the Politburo, committee members of the Politburo and deputies to heads of departments.
The congress ending sometime today is taking place at Robert Mugabe Square in Harare, and started Thursday.
Reports from Zanu Pf insiders according to investigations by TechMagTV indicate there is gnashing of teeth within Zanu PF amid the impending announcement of a new Politburo expected to usher fresh blood and relegate the old guard to the peripheries.
According to the Zanu Pf constitution, the current Politburo will be dissolved at congress which ends today.
President Mnangagwa already presided over a crucial party Central Committee (CC) meeting in Harare, where constitutional amendments were made in order to create additional Politburo portfolios to reward both loyalists and workhorses.
New faces, as well as returnees, to the powerful Politburo are expected to be named on the final day of congress, today Saturday.
Investigations by this reporter show that Mnangagwa has reportedly kept the list a closely guarded secret.
Anonymous sources within the party reached out to TechMagTV saying the Zanu PF leader wanted to bring changes to his inner circle in a power preservation matrix, which would result in purging of some of his contemporaries, and replacing them with ‘Young Turks.’
Mnangagwa now 80-years-old hinted of the surprise omissions of traditional holders of key posts, who will be shunted to an obscure body to be known as “Council of Elders.”
The Zanu PF bigwigs must adjust to life as ordinary card-carrying members following announcement of a new Politburo, he said.
The Zanu PF Politburo ‘shefs’ face challenge from minnows in party elections and as they already were addressed as outgoing and no sacred cows according to Zanu Of stalwart Bimha, the First Lady is also expected to consolidate power; bouncing back into the Zanu PF elite circle.
The Zanu PF Congress has seen top officials pay ZW$100k each to fund Mnangagwa’s endorsement ritual as 2023 Presidential candidate
“In whatever portfolios the party assigns us in the future, let us maintain the momentum we have demonstrated to date, while at the same time providing appropriate guidance to the lower structures of the party,” Mnangagwa said while officially opening the penultimate Politburo during the week.
“No matter our portfolios in the future, let us remain unflinching and consistent as loyal, patriotic and committed members of Zanu PF emboldened by the fact that in our party, leaders at every level are servants of the people, as such the most important position in Zanu PF is to be a card-carrying member.
“The enthusiasm which was shown across the party amply demonstrates that Zanu PF is alive and remains the only true defender of that we fought for.”
President Mnangagwa is expected to balance loyalty and competence ahead of his 2023 re-election bid.
Other Sources say constitutional changes would create new portfolios such as mines, and that of sport and arts, which will have substantive secretaries and deputies.
Another surprise inclusion could be Local Government Deputy Minister, Marian Chombo, who owes to her cherry-picking and proverbial nine lives within Zanu PF to supposed close links to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is also expected to stay in the elite league.
Also Controversial Mnangagwa blue-eyed boy, Zanu PF Midlands Deputy Chairperson, Edison Chiherenge, is set to be unveiled as substantive youth secretary, a post previously held by the late Absolom Sikhosana who stayed in that portfolio for over a decade during late former president Robert Mugabe’s rule.
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