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HomePoliticsZanu PF positioning party,state constitutions in the succession matrix

Zanu PF positioning party,state constitutions in the succession matrix

Mutare– A local think tank has said the ZANU PF succession battle is embroiled in a number of complexities because of the lack of rule of law, placing state and party constitution in the periphery of debate.

In a Political Economy Review Paper titled “Complexities around Zanu PF succession: state and party constitutions”, Zimbabwe Democracy Institute states that both these constitutions have been marginalized.

ZDI also claims that the best solution to solve the succession conundrum would be for President Robert Mugabe to name a successor, but goes on to say that in the even he leaves office, the party constitution will hold sway over the national constitution.

“The role of both the party and state constitutions in the succession matrix has either been marginalised or in some cases, entirely ignored. However theoretically, the most effective way to resolve the succession issue is for the president to name a successor…

“Though the state and party constitutions lay out how succession should be handled in Zimbabwe, these documents are not the ultimate authority, and will certainly play second fiddle to other developments within the party. This is fundamentally because ZANU PF is contemptuous of the rule of law,” states the report.

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Constitutional permutations for succession

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 ZDI also states that the in the event of the President becoming incapacitated, an issue continuously raised because of his advanced health, there are set out procedures on appointing a successor, at party and state level.

However, ZDI claims, party position will most likely take precedence over the state constitution because of “the closed and highly secretive nature of ZANU-PF politics and a history of ruthlessness against rivals suggest the need for complete or near complete seizing of power which does not allow for the following, but manipulation or disregarding of the succession rules as laid out in the party and state constitutions.”

“In the event of President Mugabe’s death or becoming incapacitated, developments in the ruling party’s statute will have preponderance over that of the nation. ZANU-PF will have to sit down as a party and select a candidate using its own internal processes.

“According to section 26 (2) of the ruling party’s constitution, an extraordinary session of the congress may be convened ‘in the event of a vacancy occurring in the Office of National President requiring the party to nominate a successor, at the instance of the secretary for administration’. The party will then have to nominate and vote a leader who will complete the rest of the presidential term.

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“In the event of Mugabe unexpectedly leaving the political scene, if the constitutional procedures were to be followed to the letter, a nominee in the ruling party would ascend to the presidency and he will have to complete the rest of the presidential term that would have been vacated by the nonagenarian. This is provided for by section 14(4) (b) of the six schedule of the state constitution,” states the report.

ZDI also claims that there is a high likelihood of the constitutional provisions being manipulated to suite narrow political agendas in the revolutionary party, as the party political system has been compromised.

“…the history of succession within ZANU-PF shows that the party constitution only exists in form rather than in substance. The constitution has been manipulated or changed a number of times in order to accommodate a preferred candidate to the presidium.

“…Mugabe’s political style, and in particular, the party political system that he has created, will make it difficult to follow the party statute. ZANU-PF has since been reduced to an instrument of Mugabe’s personal rule.”

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