Zanu-PF releases candidates list
ZANU-PF yesterday announced the final list of candidates who will contest the forthcoming harmonised elections on the ruling party’s ticket.
The list includes 210 National Assembly candidates, 60 proportional representation candidates, 60 senatorial candidates and 100 provincial council candidates.
Addressing a Press conference in Harare yesterday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Cde Obert Mpofu said the ruling party had gone through internal processes of primary elections and re-runs and was now in the final stages of submitting party names of successful candidates to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec).
Cde Mpofu was flanked by politburo members Cde Simon Khaya Moyo (Information and Publicity), Cde Paul Mangwana (Legal Affairs), Cde Munyaradzi Machacha and Cde Tshinga Dube.
“The full list of all the successful candidates will be published in the print and electronic media with immediate effect.
“All provincial election directorates/ provincial coordinating committees are hereby instructed to abide by the list which has been finally approved by the party submitted to Zec,” he said.
“Disciplinary action will be taken against any individual who will temper with the approved list of candidates. The names of the final successful candidates as will be announced are the ones which will have to complete the nominations documents and provide their credentials to Zec.”
He said all candidates should have completed the vetting exercise by close of business yesterday.
Cde Mpofu directed all provinces to ensure that all the candidates in the respective provinces are assisted in the registration process with Zec.
“All Zanu-PF candidates are expected to be at
speak in the hope that we will be able to advancefile them to Zec before the end of day, at least the ones for parliamentary elections,” he said.
“As for the local government elections, the candidates for Parliament are working with local government candidates to make sure all their papers are in order for submission at the relevant the nomination courts in their respective areas by 0700 hours on Thursday this week. The party’s legal department is now on standby to assist provinces in the registration process to ensure all our candidates are successfully registered for the 2018 harmonised elections,” he said.
“You may have been experiencing certain developments from some of our provinces where names have been changed willy nilly without clearance from the party or from then Politburo. We have addressed that issue where we have ensured that the names that were cleared by the Politburo are the ones that will be submitted for nomination with Zec.”
Cde Mpofu said the party had made corrections for senatorial candidates for Matabeleland South Province as per the Politburo directive.
Cde Mpofu said in Beitbridge the candidate was Tambudzani Mohadi, in Bulilima-Mangwe Cde Khaya Moyo, Cde Alima Mukweva (Gwanda), Cde Thembani Mathuthu (Mzingwane), Cde Essabel Ngwenya (Matobo) and Earnest Ncube (Inzisa).
“In Mashonaland East, the womens quota we have in Cde Lilian Zemura (Murehwa), Cde Roselyne Makoni (Marondera-Wedza), Cde Nyarai Tsvuura (Mutoko), Cde Lucia Mudzingwa (Goromonzi), Cde Tatenda Mavetera (Seke-Chikomba), and UMPMudzi we have Marbel Kaundikidza,” he said.
local government nomination courts on Thursday.
“All the candidates are there. It is just a question of working on the papers.”
Bickering in the alliance is rife in various provinces including Harare, Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Manicaland.
MDC-T supporters are resisting imposition of candidates from alliance partners and demonstrations and petitions are the order of the day in places such as Chimanimani, where party supporters are rejecting former Energy and Power Development deputy Minister Munacho Mutezo as their MDC Alliance parliamentary candidate.
Mr Mutezo is from ZimPF, and MDC-T members prefer local businessman, Mr Canaan Matiashe.
In Matabeleland South, power hungry MDC-T officials left out in the parliamentary race are now working on derailing the coalition. They want seats allocated to Prof Ncube’s MDC. In Masvingo, nomadic politician Mr Kudakwashe Bhasikiti is facing resistance from the MDC-T in Mwenezi East where he was fielded as a candidate for the alliance. MDC-T provincial chairperson for Masvingo, Mr James Gumbi, has reportedly resigned because of the infighting. Insiders said Mr Gumbi is against the imposition of Mr Bhasikiti whom he said worked against the MDC-T since its formation in 1999.
In Harare, supporters in Glen View South have petitioned Mr Chamisa over the imposition of Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s daughter Vimbai, as the constituency’s representative.
In Harare Central, MDC-T supporters are clamouring for primary elections, as opposed to the imposition of Mr Murisi Zvizwai, with the situation not clear on who will represent the party in Kuwadzana East between Mr Chalton Hwende and youth activist Mr Shakespeare Mukoyi.
Mr Chamisa is the legislator for Kuwadzana East, but supporters have been pissed off by his attempts to impose his friend Mr Hwende to succeed him.
The MDC-T led by Dr Khupe said they were working on their list of representatives.
“We are fielding candidates at all levels from Zambezi to Limpopo,” said Dr Khupe’s deputy, Mr Obert Gutu. “It has been hectic, but we are on it.”
Dr Joice Mujuru-led National People’s Party (NPP) could not be reached for comment, as her assistants said she was busy. Zimbabwe Development Party (ZDP) and the Voice of the People (VOP) said they were no longer contesting the elections.
They said the elections would not be free and fair because of “numerous electoral practices.”
“The outcome of these elections won’t be a reflection of the true will of the people of Zimbabwe, but of the manipulated, hoodwinked, suppressed and helpless electorate,” reads a joint statement by the party’s leader Mr Kisinoti Mukwazhe (ZDP) and Mr Moreprecision Muzadzi (VOP).
“Observer missions like Sadc and Comesa have already indicated that elections will be free, fair and credible without mentioning grievances and ignoring concerns raised by most political stakeholders.”
Mr Mukwazhe and Mr Muzadzi recently approached the constitutional court seeking to be considered for funding under the Political Parties (Finance) Act, despite the fact that they did not qualify.
Chief Justice Luke Malaba dismissed the application, saying a political party was not an income generating project, hence upstart political outfits should not burden the courts with claims of a share from the election campaign fund awarded in terms of the Act.
According to Zec’s election roadmap, the electoral body has appointed constituency election officers and was yesterday busy holding nomination court training and set up. ZANU-PF secretary for war veterans Cde Victor Matemadanda has urged Zimbabweans to vote for President Mnangagwa on July 30 as he is an exemplary leader who pursues national interests.
He said this while addressing Zanu-PF supporters at Cheziya Community Hall at Gokwe Centre yesterday.
Cde Matemadanda said Zimbabwe used to be under rulers since the Smith regime and President Mnangagwa was different as he was a leader who considered other people when making decisions. “There is a difference between a ruler and a leader. Since the Ian Smith regime until the end of Mugabe regime, Zimbabwe was under a ruler.
“A ruler is selfish and makes decisisons without considering how the decisions will impact on other people’s lives.
“Now we have a leader who is a team player. He is part of the team he leads and we will never go wrong. He is is a fellow war veteran. Mugabe was a detainee who refused to become a war veteran that is why he did not understand war veterans concerns, “said Cde Matemadanda. He urged people to vote for Zanu-PF. “This is not the time to belong to the NPF or independent candidates. These were once G40 and Gamatox and will not take us anywhere,” added Cde Matemadanda.
Speaking at the same function, Midlands Minister of State, Cde Owen Ncube urged people to campaign peacefully for the ruling party as pronounced by President Mnangagwa.
“You should not vote for NPF as its members especially Grace Mugabe insulted people. Vote for a party that has a history and follows proper procedures when rising to power. It was clear from the start that President Mnangagwa would succeed President Mugabe but things had gone wrong and the former President wanted to give his wife the post. We could not allow that, “he said.
“We should urge churches, vendors and students from colleges to vote for Zanu PF.”
Cde Ncube said some independent candidates in Gokwe South and North were on a mission to divide votes. “Let us persuade voters. Independent candidates are holding meetings at night but that will not deter us. Let us be peaceful. All those perpetrating violence do not belong to us. They may be infiltrators bent on tarnishing our party.
When campaigning let us put the President first. Let us vote for Zanu-PF Member of Parliament, senator and councillors,” he said.