ZANU PF old horse and former Minister of State for Interactive Affairs Chen Chimutengwende is today set to bounce back into the political limelight following his nomination to contest for the post of Deputy Senate President.
REPORT BY VENERANDA LANGA
Chimutengwende was nominated yesterday following a Zanu PF caucus meeting ahead of today’s election of Parliament’s presiding officers.
Zanu PF – with a two-thirds majority in Parliament – is likely to land all the contested posts which include that of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Assembly and their deputies. The MDC-T last week said they would boycott the elections.
Chimutengwende, who went into political oblivion after the 2008 elections, is likely to deputise Senate President Edna Madzongwe, who is set to land her third consecutive term at the helm of the Upper House.
Zanu PF legislators yesterday also nominated Mabel Chinomona for the post of Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly after the politburo met last week and recommended Jacob Mudenda for the Speaker’s post.
Former Zanu PF Chief Whip Joram Gumbo is likely to retain his post in the Lower House where he might be deputised by the party’s Central Committee member Mandi Chimene while Tambudzani Mohadi is also likely to retain her former position as the party’s Senate Chief Whip.
The elections, which come soon after the swearing-in ceremony, will be by secret ballot with Clerk of Parliament Austin Zvoma acting as presiding officer under the supervision of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
