Zanu PF supporters in Gwanda South not happy

Cleopas Ndou 

SCORES of ZANU PF supporters in Gwanda South have expressed dismay at the way the party’s primary elections were  handled last Saturday.

Many of them blame the Matabeleland South resident minister, Abednico Ncube for fanning hate  that they fear could destabilise the revolutionary party prior to the harmonized elections later this year.

There are revelations that Ncube called for a meeting to drum up support to again represent the constituency. This was in stark contrast to the ZANU PF pronouncement to the effect that no one was allowed to campaign at that stage.

In video footage that has since gone viral, Ncube is overhead denouncing other primary election candidates, going full length to say those that once belonged to other political parties were not allowed in ZANU PF. 

At the campaign, Ncube blatantly told party members to vote for him only and not pay attention to other candidates.

“Phansi ngabathanda izikhundla, phansi ngabathanda izikhundla [down with those who want to power]. For MP vote Abednico Ncube and for councillor vote EJ Nyathi” said Ncube as he told a handful of party members.

“Do not vote for those who come to the party and say they will give you mealie meal. Down with those who came from other parties down with those who once worked  with Mujuru and then come to ZANU PF and want to be voted for. Such people must first be known by the party,” he said.

Ncube’s pronouncement seems to oppose the ruling party’s stance in calling in new members as the ruling party is on a campaign to gain more 5 million votes this year.  

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is on record saying the revolutionary party must welcome anyone who wants to be a member.

Other party members vying to represent the Gwanda South seat on a ZANU PF ticket are war liberator Cde David Moyo, and Cde Omphile Marupi.

Cde Moyo is a well known businessman and a mealer in the area.

Moyo’s candidature was reportedly recalled by the party in what has raised eyebrows and left many supporters fuming.

One  party member who was aggrieved at how Moyo was turned down, said what transpired in Gwanda South constituency was a total neglect of what ZANU PF stands as a democratic party that is open to every citizen.

“We were not happy at all. Some of our members failed to cast their ballots at the primaries. How can a candidate say bad things about other candidates, yet we are one party and campaigning for ZANU PF to win. We call on the leadership and the Politburo to look into this,” he said.

On Monday, the ZANU PF national political commissar, Comrade Mike Bimha said the party was looking into concerns raised by some candidates in some constituencies. 

He said a special ad-hoc tribunal met yesterday to consider the complaints, some of which might affect the results.

“We allowed people to lodge complaints, and outcomes of these complaints will affect results,” said Cde Bimha.

Preliminary results announced by Bimha  indicated that some ministers and veteran legislators fell by the wayside. 

Abednico Ncube was one heavyweight to lose out to Marupi, according to preliminary results received.

The Politburo is set to announce the final results.