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today, with President Mugabe scheduled to address a star rally at Nzvimbo Growth Point in Chiweshe, Mashonaland Central Province.
Yesterday, the Politburo met at the revolutionary party’s national headquarters in Harare where the itinerary for President Mugabe’s star rallies was discussed, among other issues related to the elections.
After today’s launch, the next stop would be in Marange, Manicaland, on Saturday followed by another rally in Marondera, Mashonaland East, on Monday and then Chitungwiza on Tuesday.
The President is then expected to address the party’s supporters at Chinhoyi Stadium in Mashonaland West next Thursday, followed by another star rally at Lupane in Matabeleland North on July 19 and another one at Pelandaba Stadium, Matabeleland South, on July 20.
Cde Mugabe, who is the Zanu-PF First Secretary and President, would head for Masvingo on July 25, followed by Bulawayo on July 27.
He would then conclude the programme with a star rally in Harare on July 28.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo said the Politburo also discussed various aspects of the campaign.
“We looked at transport and logistics, although I am not going into the details. We also talked about the media campaign, which I head. We are working flat out to ensure that we saturate the whole country with advertisements,” he said.
Cde Gumbo said Zanu-PF would also take its message to the people using social media platforms.
“We are going to use social media — Facebook, YouTube and Twitter — everything that is there, we are going to use.”
Meanwhile, Cde Gumbo said the Politburo yesterday resolved to expel Dr Munyaradzi Kereke from the party for insubordination.
“We also talked about the issue of Kereke and it took quite a bit of our time. The decision of the Politburo is that Kereke is dismissed or expelled from the party with immediate effect because of insubordination.
“If he is a party cadre, he should follow the decision of the Politburo; he should follow the leadership of the party.
“He cannot use the party regalia that includes his photograph and that of the President at the back. The provincial chairman, Cde (Lovemore) Matuke, the other guy who signed for Kereke for the Nomination Court, will be brought to the disciplinary committee.
“They are the ones who handled that issue, so that is as far as the Kereke issue is concerned.”
Dr Kereke filed nomination papers on a Zanu-PF ticket along with Cde Elias Musakwa to contest the Bikita West constituency currently held by MDC-T’s Heya Shoko.
The Politburo, however, directed Cde Kereke to withdraw his papers and endorsed the candidature of Cde Musakwa.
Cde Gumbo warned other Zanu-PF members who filed their papers as independent candidates to desist from using the party regalia in their campaigns.
“Those independent candidates who are using the President’s photographs and other Zanu-PF regalia and so on are advised to desist from doing so.
“The position of the party is clear: they are firm on people who are insubordinate,” he added.
Zanu-PF launched its manifesto last week at the historic Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield, Harare.
The manifesto is dubbed, “Taking Back the Economy, Indigenise, Empower, Develop and Create Employment”.
Online Reporter