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Cletus Mushanawani
News Editor
ZANU PF’s election machinery has been well-oiled to ensure flawless Central Committee elections for Manicaland this weekend.
The ruling party will tomorrow (Saturday) go to the polls to elect cadres to fill positions in the Central Committee, which is the highest decision-making body outside Congress.
In Manicaland, a total of 83 cadres initially submitted their Currica Vitae for considerations.
However, some of them fell by the wayside after failing to meet the selection criteria. Others withdrew from the race, while some had a waiver for their candidatures after successfully arguing their cases with the party’s commissariat department.
President Mnangagwa on Wednesday set the tone for the elections while addressing the 365th Session of the Politburo in Harare when he said there is no room for chicanery, name dropping, violence, or imposition of candidates in the ruling party.
“There is no room for chicanery of whatever nature and form. Vote-buying, violence, name dropping and imposition of candidates are not and will never be part of our political organisational DNA.
“This is more so as the Central Committee is the highest organ of the party in-between congresses. In light of this, every cadre of the party is reminded that there is no room for concessions with regard to matters of party principles, rules and regulations. We are a revolutionary party, which fought and delivered democracy. At all times, we must practise and defend that democracy.
“As the only party that is representative of the people of this great country, we must continue to observe the provisions of our party constitution, party ideals and ethos,” said President Mnangagwa.
In Manicaland, Zanu PF provincial chairman, Cde Mike Madiro said it is all systems go for the plebiscite.
Cde Madiro said the elections will be held in the eight centres identified.
Zanu PF has eight administrative districts in Manicaland, that is Buhera, Chimanimani, Chipinge, Makoni, Mutare Urban, Mutasa, Nyanga and Zimunya-Marange.
Those eligible will converge at selected centres in their respective districts to exercise their domestic right to vote for the candidate of their choice.
The electoral college is comprised of the party district chairpersons of the four wings (the Main, Women, War Veterans and Youth Leagues), the District Coordination Committee, the Provincial Executive Committee, the Central Committee, the National Consultative Assembly, Politburo members and the contesting candidates.
“We are geared for the Central Committee elections. Everything is now in place to ensure a flawless process. Initially, we received 83 CVs from interested candidates.
“Some withdrew their candidatures for various reasons, while some failed to meet the prescribed selection criteria of having served in the provincial executive for at least five years. Some managed to get a waiver after successfully arguing their cases with the national commissariat department,” said Cde Madiro.
“The majority qualified to contest and it is now up to the electoral college to come up with the best candidates for this very important organ of the party. People are very excited about this as evidenced by the number of CVs received and we hope we will get mature and responsible cadres to fill positions in the Central Committee,” he said.
On the exemption of senior cadres from contestation, Cde Madiro said: “When we met as the provincial executive committee, we had a resolution that our seniors in the province, that national chairman, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and national secretary for finance, Cde Patrick Chinamasa, would not be contested.
“We, however, later got guidance from the commissariat department that all positions will be contested for. It is a different scenario for Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri because as the national chairman, she is part of the Presidium and is exempted from tomorrow’s elections.
“It should be noted that an election manifests in several ways, including consensus. While we usually use the secret ballot for elections, the electoral college at a particular centre can agree to have a consensus on a certain candidate and exempt him or her from contestation.
“Eventually, democracy should prevail. I want to take this opportunity to wish all the contesting candidates the best. The party comes first ahead of individuals. May the best candidates win,” said Cde Madiro.
Chipinge District has the highest number of candidates as 13 are vying for four seats, followed by Makoni which has 13 candidates battling for three seats.
In Mutasa,10 candidates are battling for four seats, Buhera (nine candidates for three seats), Nyanga (eight candidates for four seats), Zimunya Marange (six candidates for two seats) and Mutare Urban (four candidates for three seats).
Among the heavyweights in the ring are Cdes Chinamasa, Christopher Chingosho, Jenfan Muswere, Tongesai Chipanga and Basil Nyabadza (Makoni), Cdes Jospeh Chinotimba, William Mutomba and Oliver Mandipaka (Buhera), Cdes Nokuthula Matsikenyere and Joshua Sacco (Chimanimani), Cdes Enock Porusingazi, Dorothy Mabika and Wilson Khumbula (Chipinge), Cdes Misheck Mugadza, Isau Mupfumi, Judith Mawire and Nancy Saungweme (Mutare Urban), Cdes Mike Nyambuya, Irene Zindi and Jefta Sakupwanya (Mutasa), Cdes Supa Mandiwanzira, Moses Gutu, Paul Kadzima and Chido Sanyatwe (Nyanga) and Cdes Mike Madiro, Chris Mushohwe and Admire Mahachi (Zimunya-Marange).
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