The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ZANU PF cadres who aspire to be elected into various public offices in the forthcoming elections should stop canvassing for support until the party gives them the nod to do so, national chairperson, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has said.
Zimbabwe is heading for harmonised elections later this year as Section 143 of the Constitution states that Parliament is elected after every five years.
The country last held its harmonised elections on July 31 in 2018, with President Mnangagwa taking the oath of office on August 26, that is two days after the Constitutional Court had dismissed opposition leader, Mr Nelson Chamisa’s court challenge on the Presidential poll results.
With elections on the horizon, aspiring Members of the House of Assembly and Councillors are already campaigning in their targeted constituencies and wards, thereby stifling the incumbent office bearers’ work.
Speaking to party supporters at Murambinda B Primary School in Murambinda last week on Friday, Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri warned aspiring office bearers against rolling out their campaigns before the party gives them the green light to do so.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said the ruling party will not hesitate to bring the aspiring cadres to order.
“We hear that some of our cadres have already started campaigning to be MPs and Councillors when we still have people in those offices.
“This is disruptive and must stop. Let us give those in office some time to wrap up their development works as they were mandated to execute them when they were elected into office.
“For those going against this order, we will not hesitate to invoke the provision of the party’s constitution. Remember I also chair the disciplinary committee of the party and I will not sit down and smile at such misbehaviour,” said Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri.
In an interview on the sidelines of the tree planting and clean-up exercises in Murambinda, Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairman, Cde Tawanda Mukodza echoed Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri’s sentiments.
He confirmed that in Manicaland, there are reports of some candidates who have already started canvassing for support.
“We all know that the sun rises once in the morning. You cannot have a new sun rising during the course of the day.
“We will not deviate from the norm. No one should be seen campaigning while we still have incumbent cadres in office. People should learn to be patient and get into the race when the appropriate time comes.
“Here in Manicaland we have received reports of such misdemeanours and I think the party cadres who were on the wrong side were warned accordingly. It is up to them to take heed or face the full wrath of the party’s constitution if they decide to remain deviant,” said Cde Mukodza.
Meanwhile, in her speech at the Murambinda event, Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also the Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister, assured the nation that no one will starve as the country has enough grain to feed its citizenry.
“No one should lie to you that Zanu PF cannot feed its people. We are a tried and tested party that turns 60 this year and for the record, no one will starve this year. We have secured enough food for everyone. This I can assure you,” she said.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri also cautioned leaders who grab food, farming inputs and regalia that is meant for supporters, adding that such actions bring the name of the party into disrepute.
“When grain is being distributed, please let it get to the people or the rightful beneficiaries. It is sad to note that we have people in our party leadership structures who have a tendency of taking grain, farming inputs and regalia meant for supporters.
“They take all that and that is when you see a party leader with all the colours and designs of the party regalia in his or her home. The same applies with farming inputs that are meant for supporters.
“This is really bad. In fact, it brings the name of the President and the party into disrepute. It should come to an end. We will not tolerate this behaviour as we head towards the elections,” she said.
