The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
BATTLE lines have been drawn in Manicaland with the Curricula Vitae of 489 candidates from Zanu PF’s eight political districts approved to contest the forthcoming District Coordinating Committee (DCC) elections.
Zanu PF held an extraordinary Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting in Mutare on Sunday to announce the list of approved candidates.
A total of 510 candidates had submitted their CVs through the provincial structure.
Twenty-one were disqualified.
Makoni District had 133 candidates vying for the 23 DCC slots, the highest number of contestants — followed by Mutare with 70, Mutasa (63), Chipinge (59), Nyanga (57), Chimanimani (56), Buhera (44) and Zimunya-Marange (23).
Nyanga, Buhera and Chipinge had the highest number of disqualified candidates (four), Chimanimani and Mutare (three), Makoni, Zimunya-Marange and Mutasa (one).
Zanu PF provincial chairman, Cde Mike Madiro said appeals should be lodged directly to the National Electorate Directorate (NED).
“All appeals are handled at that level, not by us. All the tension and suspicion were unwarranted because the process is straightforward. There was no need to personalise this. The process is very clear,” said CdeMadiro.
He said candidates were not invited to the PCC meeting as they are not members.
“Candidates could not attend the PCC meeting as they are not members. We were instructed to give the lists to district coordinators, and implored them to respect confidentiality. Candidates must know of their fate before anyone else,” said Cde Madiro.
“I made this very clear in my address but when the meeting was over, some people started complaining. Yet noone had objected to the suggestion during the meeting,” said Cde Madiro.
Addressing Sunday’s PCC meeting, Politburo member, Ambassador Cain Mathema said the high number of candidates is a sign of democracy in the party.
He implored members to elect candidates with a vision.
“The candidates must be of acceptable quality in order to provide effective leadership and shun corruption because the party is not a haven of malcontents and criminals,” said Ambassador Mathema.
“DCCs must promote the development of the province, and cannot develop Manicaland if they are not loyal to the leader of the party, President Mnangagwa, as we have already endorsed him as our candidate for the 2023 harmonised elections,” he said. Ambassador Mathema urged contestants to conduct their campaigns peacefully and avoid dividing party supporters.
“The campaigns must be peaceful, not divisive. We have power hungry cadres who will go out of the way to land positions. We need unity in the party. Do not injure the reputation of other candidates. Your campaigns must not be dirty,” he said.
Addressing the same gathering, acting Zanu PF national spokesperson, Cde Patrick Chinamasa said the DCCs should spearhead politics and development under their jurisdictions.
“Our politics should drive development. To progress as a country, we need development. DCCs should not be the reason to divide us, if anything, they must unite people. Losers should accept the outcome and congratulate the winners. We must move forward as a united party in all districts. If we do this, we will surely win resoundingly in 2023,” said Cde Chinamasa.
He also spoke against vote-buying and imposition of candidates, saying the electorate must be given an opportunity to elect capable leaders of their choice.
In Makoni, three candidates – Makoni South legislator, Cde Misheck Mataranyika, Cde Joseph Mujati and Cde Albert Nyakuedzwa are vying for the chairman’s post. In Nyanga, the chairman’s post is being eyed by Cde Moses Gutu, Cde Makaiadi and Cde Barnabas Mhaka.
In Chipinge, CdeThemba Sithole is vying for the chairman’s post, while Cde Simon MapfumoMapamba was disqualified.
In Buhera, Cde Zvenyika Machokoto – who was vying for the chairman’s post – was disqualified, thereby leaving Cdes Cosmore Chimombe and Davy Jakuraza in the race.
