. . . Zaka East primary polls on August 3

Masvingo Bureau JOSTLING for Zaka East parliamentary seat has started within ZANU-PF after the ruling party provincial leadership set August 3 as the date for holding primary elections to choose the revolutionary party’s candidate in the forthcoming by-election.

The Zaka East seat was left vacant following the death of Cde Caston Ringisai Gumbwanda, who was the ZANU-PF National Assembly representative for the constituency.

Cde Gumbwanda died in Harare last month from pneumonia. Cde Gumbwanda had replaced Cde Samson Mukandiri, who died last year.

The parliamentary by-election will be held on September 21.

ZANU -PF Masvingo provincial spokesperson Cde Ronald Ndaba yesterday said the ruling party had already set the date for Zaka East primary poll.

Cde Ndaba said the ruling party provincial secretary for finance and party leader in Zaka Cde Robson Mavhenyengwa was spearheading the collection of curriculum vitaes from prospective candidates.

“We have set August 3 as the date for holding primary elections in Zaka East and processes are already in motion with Cde Mavhenyengwa leading the process to receive CVs from those eyeing the seat,’’ he said.

“The ZANU-PF provincial elections directorate will vet all the CVs and determine candidates who will square off in the primary elections.’’

He said the party’s provincial coordinating committee will turn into an elections directorate once all the CVs have been submitted and vetting of all aspiring candidates is completed.

The ZANU-PF provincial spokesperson said the ruling party was more than prepared for the by-election, which the party was optimistic of retaining.

“We are quite confident of retaining the seat (Zaka East). Nothing will stop a convincing ZANU-PF victory in the by-election because Masvingo is a ‘one-party state’. Zaka is a known ZANU-PF stronghold and the ruling party dominance in the district and the entire province is unquestionable. We will retain Zaka East easily,’’he said.

ZANU-PF has maintained its dominance on the political landscape in Masvingo province where the revolutionary party bagged 25 out of 26 National Assembly seats during last year’s general elections.