adminbind the party together.
Tomorrow, the revolutionary party conducts its primary elections countrywide and the response by candidates has been overwhelming in a manner consistent with a long-standing democracy.
In such instances unity of purpose and discipline are mandatory issues. A party of the calibre of Zanu-PF cannot be a free for all.
Rules, values and principles are vital cogs in the running of the party’s engine.
The party is supreme and bigger than any member and those disgruntled with any decision taken are expected to remain disciplined and follow the party’s laid down internal grievance procedures.
There should be no spoilers.
On Friday, Zanu-PF supporters from six constituencies thronged the party’s headquarters in Harare to express their grievances against the selection criteria of candidates to contest in the primaries.
The supporters were bussed from Bikita West, Zvimba North, Mhangura, Muzvezve, Goromonzi West and Mutoko South by aspiring candidates who failed to make it in the list of people to participate in the primaries slated for tomorrow.
The Zanu-PF National Elections Directorate had to move the primaries to Wednesday, but reverted to Tuesday since the Zimbabwe Elections Commission wants the names of confirmed candidates by Wednesday as it readies for the seating of the nomination court on Friday.
As much as Zanu-PF should stick to the resolutions made during the Gweru annual national people’s conference last December that there should be no imposition of candidates, members must understand that this should not in any way be a licence for any Tom and Dick to seek candidature.
All the candidates should be people of repute, whose allegiance to the party over the years is beyond reproach, candidates the party should bank on and guarantee victory against people to be fielded by other political parties during the June 31 elections.
The party should be commended for demonstrating political maturity by postponing its primary elections initially from Monday to Tuesday to enable the National Elections Directorate to look into the concerns of the disgruntled party members.
An election by nature is a serious contest and there are bound to be winners and losers and it is against this backdrop that those who fall by the wayside after tomorrow’s primary elections should demonstrate maturity and support the winning candidates.
The indications are that the battles in some constituencies will be nail-biting ones as several people will be fighting to represent Zanu-PF.
During the Gweru national annual people’s conference, the President and First Secretary of the party, President Mugabe, bemoaned the lack of unity of purpose among party members that was demonstrated during the 2008 harmonised elections where some cadres adopted the so-called bhora musango.
This time Zanu-PF should send a warning to such people that they risk expulsion if caught.
The only tactic in town should be “Bhora Mugedhi/Ibhola Egedini” and the party should ensure the losers in tomorrow’s primary elections join hands with the winners and ensure that Zanu-PF emerges victorious.
Zanu-PF members should be warned that the enemy has not yet been completely defeated and will wait for any opportunity, including factionalism, to pounce when everyone least expects that to happen.
But if they take heed of what President Mugabe has been saying about unity and a non-violent campaign, Zanu-PF will triumph in the forthcoming elections.
To all candidates, the refrain should be: Victory begins with me (the aspirant), victory begins with you (the challenger), and victory begins with all of us (the party).
Online Reporter