Victory is certainly certain, says Dr Mpofu

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Reporter
ZANU-PF national secretary-general Dr Obert Mpofu has declared victory for the ruling revolutionary party in next week’s Lupane East by-election where Cde Phathisiwe Machangu will carry the party’s emblem.

In his fifth drum-up campaign rally inside two weeks at Lupaka Business Centre yesterday, a fired up Dr Mpofu who was accompanied by his wife and Central committee member Cde Sikhanyisiwe Mpofu, senior women’s league national executive led by secretary for finance Cde Caroline Mugabe, provincial party leaders as well as Tsholotsho South legislator Cde Musa Ncube said victory for the party was a foregone conclusion, with the only issue being by how many votes. Cde Machangu will face two Citizens Coalition for Change candidates, Mr Bright Vanya Moyo and Mr David Nyathi who both had their papers accepted by the nomination court at its sitting early last month.

“You love your party, we are aware of that and this is why I remain confident that we are going to reclaim our seat next week. Zanu-PF is the people’s party. I am therefore saying to you people of Lupane East that go out there and vote for victory is certainly certain,” said Dr Mpofu.

The by-elections were necessitated by the recall of Citizens Coalition for Change candidates by the party’s interim secretary-general Mr Sengezo Tshabangu. Mr Tshabangu, disgruntled over how the party conducted its selection process for candidates in preparation for the August 23 harmonised elections, among other grievances, recalled 15 legislators of which nine were constituency holders while the other six had gone in through the proportional representation criteria. He has also recalled a total of 69 councillors from 15 local authorities.

The state of confusion in the opposition resulted in them fielding double candidates in all constituencies to be contested for except in the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency in Harare.

Dr Mpofu also took the opportunity to remind party leadership in the province to always put the interest of the organisation ahead of their personal needs saying that self interests by those in the party has been the major reason why elections have been lost.

“We have noted that some of these losses are self inflicted, largely as a result of those of us in positions of authority where we suddenly become demi gods once the people usher us into the podium, we don’t want that,” said Dr Mpofu.

He called on the people of Lupaka to resoundingly vote for the revolutionary party next Saturday and send a clear message to the opposition and it’s western backers. He said he remained confident that the party will romp to a resounding victory as the electorate from Lupane East had been given a glorious opportunity to correct the mistake they made in the August harmonised elections.