‘Slap in the face for Jonathan Moyo’

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE ZANU PF desperately wanted to win the Speaker of Parliament position last week because the post is of symbolic value to the party, political analysts contend. According to the analysts, the loss of the post to Lovemore Moyo was a slap in the face for Jonathan Moyo, who together with some MDC MPs had contested the 2008 election of the MDC-T chairman in the Supreme Court. Moyo’s victory saw him become the first Speaker of Parliament who was not elected on a Zanu PF ticket since independence in 1980. Political analyst Charles Mangongera said though the position was largely of symbolic value, whichever party commands it had an advantage over the other parties in Parliament. In the long run, one of the three main factions within Zanu PF which would have won the Speaker of Parliament position would have been in a strategic position to deal with President (Robert) Mugabe’s succession issue, he said. “They all know Mugabe’s age is advanced and anything can happen at any time so they have to deal with the possibility of a succession battle arising,” said Mangongera. “Moyo’s victory was really a slap in the face for Jonathan Moyo because it obviously derails any political ambitions he had. He wants to be seen as the kingmaker in Zanu PF.” Moyo launched a court challenge that resulted in another election being called for the position of Speaker of Parliament. National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) chairman Love-more Madhuku feels that Zanu PF wanted the position because the party wanted “a feel good” scenario that would lift up the spirits of its members ahead of the next elections. “The post is symbolic and Zanu PF wanted to show its supporters that they had recovered from the 2008 loss.” Madhuku however said the loss was a temporary setback for the Zanu PF spin doctor and former Information and Publicity minister. “It is a temporary setback for Jonathan Moyo. “Zanu PF has nowhere to go while Jonathan has no competitors in Zanu PF.”