The opposition party, National Patriotic Front (NPF) has refuted media claims that there was a leadership change within the party after reports surfaced that its president, Retired Brigadier Ambrose Mutinhiri was on his way out.
According to the circulating reports, Mutinhiri who resigned from the ruling Zanu PF to join NPF would be replaced by top Harare lawyer, Farai Mutamangira.
In a statement released today, NPF made up of mainly deposed and disgruntled former Zanu-PF members who were chucked out during the November 14 military coup said Mutinhiri remained the leader despite attempts by some of its party members who want to acquire power through unorthodox means.
“It is pertinent that we make it clear that the current leadership structure is born out of a deliberate process involving the founders of the party whose mandate, at this formative stage, is to identify competent and dedicated cadres to fill in important positions in the party and that process has always been led by our President, Retired Brigadier Ambrose Mutinhiri,” said Jealous Mawarire, the NPF Spokesperson.
“It is regrettable that these patently reckless statements at public forums and clandestine interviews, done nocturnally, have been taken an official party position when in fact NPF has a clear operational structure that deals with leadership identification as we grow our party,” added Mawarire.
Reports have also been making rounds that the new political outfit had leadership fissures with a section of party members believed to be at loggerheads with Mutinhiri whom they accused of being passive and absconding meetings since his ” appointment” as the interim leader.
However, the party said any leadership renewal process would be led by its president, Mutinhiri.
Meanwhile, the party says it is working on winning the forthcoming elections.
“We are focused on winning the forthcoming harmonised elections and we are doing everything that we believe boosts the party’s chances of winning these elections,” reads the statement.
