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acting chairman, Cde Reuben Marumahoko, former chairman Cde John Mafa, Zvimba South legislator, Cde Walter Chidakwa and Alderman Elias Moffat Marashwa.
The elections will be held tomorrow in the province’s districts.
In separate interviews, the four candidates concurred on the need to campaign vigorously for the party to retain its dominance. The province lost six seats to the MDC-T.
Cde Marumahoko said the 2008 harmonised election outcome in the province was not supposed to be repeated. He said if elected into office he would ensure that Zanu-PF reclaims the seats that were won by the MDC-T in 2008.
“The election outcome in the province in 2008 is not a healthy situation for a province the President hails from,” he said. “If elected, I will work extra hard to make sure we retain those seats so that we deliver the entire province to the President.”
Cde Marumahoko said he would encourage the people in the province to utilise the opportunities created by empowerment programmes being spearheaded by the party.
He said he would also improve the agricultural activities in the province “since it’s the breadbasket of the country”. The province is known for maize, cotton and tobacco farming.
Cde Marumahoko wants to encourage many people in the province to register as voters and vote in their numbers. He said his priority has always been to stablise the party.
“For the one year I have acted as provincial chairman I have managed to stabilise the party and I look forward to stabilising it more if elected,” he said.
He said he was ready for the elections tomorrow.
Cde Mafa said his main objective was to stabilise the party ahead of the harmonised general elections this year.
“The province wasn’t well for the last two years because of factionalism, but I will follow the constitution to the fullest,” he said. “I believe every member of Zanu-PF has a role to play and it is important that they realise it, the decision has to be collective.”
He said his other objective was to make sure Zanu-PF retained all the seats lost to the MDC-T. Cde Mafa said he wanted to see Zanu-PF and President Mugabe romping to victory at the forthcoming elections.
He said he would also try to lead the party with wisdom.
“We would want to make sure that those who are not registered regularise their status. I also want to eliminate factional politics in the province because it is not good for the party,” Cde Mafa said.
He said his initial dethronement by the party leadership in the province in 2010 was due to factionalism.
Cde Mafa said he was also going to be in touch with Government programmes so that they can be implemented in the province.
He said he was ready for the elections since the day he was dethroned.
Cde Chidhakwa said politics could not be separated from economics because the former derives its existence from the latter.
“The economics of wealth creation is closely linked to politics and people are mostly, interested in politics that makes them rich,” Cde Chidakwa said. “It is the responsibility of the chairperson to make sure structures are strengthened. If elected I will make sure the structures are strengthened from the cell upwards. “
Cde Chidakwa said he would make sure proceeds from the Mhondoro-Ngezi and Zvimba Community Share Ownership Trust were used for development of the province.
Cde Chidakwa said his objective was to see infrastructure development in the province in the form of irrigation facilities and road maintenance.
He said he would also make sure the rural electrification exercise in the province was completed to stop desertification. Water reticulation would also be improved to make the water clean and readily available for people in the province.
Cde Chidakwa said infrastructure development, especially schools and clinics, would go a long way in creating opportunities for the party to reclaim its dominance in the province.
Cde Marashwa says Zanu-PF can only reclaim its dominance in the province when there is stability.
If elected to chair the province, Cde Marashwa said his leadership would respect the resolutions of all the DCCs.
“When there is no stability it is difficult to win elections, it is therefore important that there is stability at all levels of the party because it becomes easy to implement party positions,” he said. “When I become chair I will make sure we retain the seats that we lost to the opposition in the province.
“It will also be important for the leadership to respect and implement decisions of the DCCs. We cannot have a leadership that does not respect resolutions of its DCCs.”
Cde Marashwa, who is a war veteran, said he would unite traditional leadership with Zanu-PF. He would also unite Zanu-PF with civil servants and businesspeople.
During the war, Cde Marashwa said they were given a task to push for economic emancipation.
He said this would not be easy but it was a battle he was ready to partake.
Cde Marashwa said he was ready for the elections adding that all the DCCs had been ready for the elections a long time ago. He said the DCCs were happy that now “they have the freedom to choose a leadership of their choice.”
Online Reporter