Take it easy! It’s not yet time for campaigns – Cde Kazembe

Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau

Zanu PF Mashonaland Central provincial chairman Cde Kazembe Kazembe has advised party members aspiring for positions to wait for the green light from the national commissar to campaign and subsequently contest.

In an interview on the sidelines of his visit to Mt Darwin, Cde Kazembe also responded to social media attacks directed at him.

He said early campaigning was distracting the party and creating a parallel structure, making people lose focus of the restructuring process and preparations for the annual people’s conference scheduled for October this year in Bindura.

Mudslinging has become the order of the day, with cheeky aspirants taking to social media to attack position holders.

“In Zanu PF there is a democracy, at the moment we are busy with the restructuring process,” said Cde Kazembe. “Elections will come, but until then we should respect those holding positions now.

“When the time comes, the national commissar will send a circular that people can start campaigning and everyone who meets the criteria is free to campaign.

“People are attacking me maliciously left right and centre, creating fake stories. I am not worried because it comes with the terrain. My message is that the time to campaign shall come and it is around the corner.”

Cde Kazembe urged party members to concentrate on finishing the cell and branch restructuring process first.

“For now, people need to work and the province still has a lot of work to do,” he said. “We still need to finish restructuring the cells and branches. Afterwards, we will do the districts and above that, we have the upcoming people’s conference which is around the corner.

“The restructuring process has a deadline. Let us create genuine cells and remain united. Let us focus on things that uplift the standard of living of our people.”

Cde Kazembe spoke to allegations that he roped his allies into the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC).

“One would wonder if the elections will only be in Mash Central, what is the problem?” he said. “People were fuming that I influenced the co-option, however, co-option was done by the PEC unanimously.

“If there was any mistake, it was a mistake by PEC, but whatever was done is in the constitution. Whenever there are gaps, co-options are done, however, the Central Committee being the principal body in-between Congress has the power to give guidance and we complied.

“Elections will come and go, but before the whistle is blown, let us work for the party and preserve the image of the party. Let us not personalise party issues and create artificial narratives to suit a certain agenda. Zanu PF is bigger than all of us.”