ZANU PF spokesman Simon Khaya Moyo is set to miss the party’s conference currently underway in Masvingo probably for the first time since the Unity Accord in 1987 amid indications he is still feeling very much under the weather from an undisclosed ailment.
With delegates making their way to the gathering from the country’s ten political provinces, including members of the politburo, central committee, national consultative assembly, women and youth leagues, officials hinted Moyo would be no way near the gathering, citing his incapacitation.
Moyo has not been seen in public since early this year with speculation over his sickness swirling amid rumours it could have been exacerbated by his alleged links to former Zanu PF and vice president Joice Mujuru who has fired from the party in December 2014.
Others claimed he was “demoted” from the party after allegedly showing ambitions of succeeding the late vice President John Nkomo having been Zanu PF national chairman.
Mugabe instead appointed then unknown Phelekezela Mphoko as vice president.
But it is his perceived links with Mujuru, who now leads the Zimbabwe People’s First, which others attribute to his alleged side-lining in Zanu PF despite being appointed secretary for information and publicity in December 2014 after the expulsion of Rugare Gumbo.
Gumbo was fired together with Mujuru the same year. So was former Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa for allegedly aligning with the former vice president who was widely considered as Mugabe’s heir apparent.
But Moyo and those close to him have vehemently denied belonging to any camp in the faction-riddled party.
The former aide to the late Zapu leader and vice president Joshua Nkomo, who has held various cabinet posts in President Mugabe’s administration since 1987, is said to be suffering from high blood pressure while others have linked his ailment to cancer.
Zanu PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo has long assumed Moyo’s responsibilities as party spokesperson but has declined to comment on his state of health.
But other party officials close to Moyo told RadioVOP ahead of the conference, which starts in earnest this Friday, it would be a miracle for him to make it to the indaba due to his illness.
“He is recuperating as he has been receiving treatment in South Africa,” said a Matabeleland South Zanu PF official Wednesday.
“In fact he shuttles between Bulawayo and South Africa. He is certainly not feeling well,” said the official, speaking strictly he is not named due to the sensitivity of the matter.
However Moyo’s close friend Ben Mangena Moyo said: “He is better,” adding that he could be back to work very soon.