Presidential candidates in future elections are expected to select two running mates, a system almost similar to the one used in the United States, which a Cabinet minister said was designed to tackle Zanu PF’s complicated succession politics.
Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs minister Eric Matinenga told journalists yesterday that the running mates would become first and second Vice-Presidents (VPs) respectively if the candidate wins.
“On election of a new President, the draft constitution introduces a new concept that any person who wants to be President must appoint two running mates,” he said.
“In the US, they have one running mate, but the draft proposes two because of our peculiar environment to accommodate two Vice-Presidents, which is a Zanu PF trend.
“When you go to nomination, you pick anybody you want either from your party or not.
“What is important is that when you pick the two, you take one as your first running mate and it means if or when you drop dead, the first running mate becomes President and second one becomes first VP.
“The President will then appoint a second VP.
“This resolves the issue of succession. It gives certainty and finality to the issue.”
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Matinenga said the fact that the country has had one President since 1980 was a big weakness and the draft proposed only two terms.
“On term limits, we have had a President since 1980 up to today and it is the feeling of most people, myself included, that this has been the biggest weakness of this country and we have said the President should have a two-term limit,” he said.
“In the case of a President, if he retires after 10 years, he will be entitled to a salary equivalent to that of a sitting President. The term limit also applies to the security services.”
Zanu PF has been embroiled in a succession war for years with several factions trying to position themselves to step in after President Robert Mugabe’s reign.
