Rugeje hails spirit of unity in Bikita
ZANU-PF National Political Commissar Lieutenant-General Engelbert Rugeje (Rtd) has hailed the spirit of unity and selflessness exhibited by ruling party’s losing candidates in Bikita West Constituency primary elections.
Cde Elias Musakwa shrugged off the challenge of incumbent legislator Cde Beauty Chabaya, and Cdes Daniel Makusha and Delight Mandebvu to win the ruling party ticket for the Bikita West National Assembly seat in harmonised elections set for July 30.
In an exemplary show of unity and putting ZANU-PF ahead of individual interest, the three losing candidates have been vital cogs in Cde Musakwa’s campaign machine as the ruling party pulls all the stops to retain the Bikita West seat.
Addressing hundreds of ruling party supporters at Mangondo Secondary School where he introduced Cde Musakwa as the ruling party’s National Assembly candidate, Lt-Gen Rugeje (Rtd) said he was elated by the show of unity and oneness shown by the people of Bikita.
He thanked aspiring candidates who lost to Cde Musakwa for showing their true love of their party, ZANU-PF.
“I am very happy with what I have seen here today, these three (Cdes Chabaya, Makusha and Mandebvu) are proving to all of us that ZANU-PF comes first as evidenced by their support for Cde Musakwa, who was chosen to represent the people of Bikita West in the coming elections on a ZANU-PF ticket.
“This kind of unity is what we want to happen, people have the power to choose whoever they want to be their leader and as party cadres, we have no choice except to respect that.
“We do not expect any ZANU-PF member or supporter here in Bikita West constituency not to support Cde Musakwa because whoever they were supporting during the primary elections has publicly declared support to the winning ruling party candidate,’’ he said.
Lt-Gen Rugeje (Rtd) reserved special praise for Cde Chabaya, saying the incumbent Bikita West legislator had proved that she was a genuine ZANU-PF cadre by throwing her weight behind Cde Musakwa.
“At the moment she (Cde Chabaya) remains the Member of Parliament for Bikita West, a position she will relinquish on July 30. I am happy that she has come all the way from Harare to pledge her support to Cde Musakwa, which is a sign that she understands that leadership is a responsibility that a person gets from the people who can take away that responsibility in future and give it to another person.
“Cde Chabaya played her part and the people now want Cde Musakwa to take over beginning July 30,’’ said Lt-Gen Rugeje (Rtd).
He said primary elections were not meant to cause hatred and acrimony among members of the same party, but to allow people to choose leaders of their choice, saying ZANU-PF has since learned key lessons that will see the party improving the conduct of internal polls in future.
“There were a lot of mistakes in our party primaries, and I want to ask for forgiveness, but we learned a lot of lessons and whether I am there or not as your political commissar, the mistakes will not happen again, this (April 29 primaries) was a learning curve.’’
Cdes Chabaya, Makusha and Mandebvu took turns to chant ruling party slogans at the rally where they each pledged full backing to Cde Musakwa.
Cde Musakwa thanked Lt-Gen Rugeje (Rtd) for helping to cement unity in ZANU-PF in Bikita, a development he said will boost the ruling party’s chances in next month’s harmonised elections.
In true brotherhood fashion Cdes Musakwa, Mandebvu and Makusha took to the dance floor at the end of the rally and joined party supporters to dance to legendary Dendera King, the late Simon Chimbetu’s hit song, “One Way’’, which celebrates African unity.