The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
THE Zanu PF politburo has endorsed Cde Mike Madiro as the party’s chairperson for Manicaland following his landslide victory, together with two other candidates that were part of his basket in the provincial elections held last week.
Cde Madiro retained the provincial chairmanship while Cde Happiness Nyakuedzwa retained her position as the women’s league chairwoman.
Cde Stanley Sakupwanya becomes the provincial youth league chairperson.
The election, which determined the leadership of the party in the province for the next five years, pitted two camps – one headed by Cde Madiro and another led by Cde Albert Nyakuedzwa.
Both camps have endorsed the electoral outcome and pledged to work together for the good of the ruling party.
In an interview on Wednesday, Cde Madiro said the election was a tight contest, and implored the party rank and file to coalesce and forge ahead as a united front.
Cde Madiro said unity is key in politics, adding that if party supporters fail to stand together, it will be detrimental to the party.
He said the party should swiftly forge a united front ahead of by-elections slated for March and ultimately the 2023 elections.
“It was a tough victory against formidable contestants. Fighting determined contestants is never easy,” he said.
Cde Nyakuedzwa
“There should be a time for the people of Manicaland to realise that a house divided against cannot stand. A divided people will never conquer, and the people of Manicaland should value unity.
“Sadly, we have some individuals that are consumed by individualism despite there being space for everyone.
The people of Manicaland should have the wisdom to shun and reject reactionary forces and revisionists in our midst. We should never allow antagonistic contradictions in the province. We have the potential to build the party,” said Cde Madiro.
Cde Madiro said losing a hard-fought election can be a humbling and agonising experience, but it’s a reality that nearly every candidate will experience on some level.
He said those who lost should not despair as there were no winners or losers in the elections.
Cde Madiro implored his rivals to heed President Mnangagwa’s call and avail their experiences, skills and competences to build the party.
“Many comrades have unbelievably reached out to me, and as a mature leadership, we have embraced colleagues and moved forward,” said Cde Madiro.
Cde Nyakuedzwa said they have accepted the results and congratulated the winners.
He urged the new provincial executive to unite the people to win resoundingly in 2023.
“We have accepted the results as endorsed by the Politburo. We had lodged a complaint against the preliminary results, but the position announced yesterday (Wednesday) is final.
‘’We hope the new executive will keep the members united. This was not a war; it was a contest and it was the party that won. I do not have any people as Nyakuedzwa, and all those who voted for me were Zanu PF supporters,” he said.
Cde Nyakuedzwa said he will mobilise his camp’s support base to play a key role as trusted and loyal cadres.
“To all those who voted for me I say follow the direction of the party. We may have lost a contest, but remain relevant and part of the ongoing political discourse. I will work for Zanu PF and ensure it wins the next election. Zanu PF is bigger than individuals. I congratulated the winners and offered myself to assist the party,” said Cde Nyakuedzwa.
Women’s league boss Cde Happiness Nyakuedzwa said the politics of emotions must give way to politics of reason.
“As a leadership we must unite the people of Manicaland after the hassles of contesting for positions. We must move forward as one family if we are to win the 2023 elections resoundingly.
‘‘There is life and the party to work for after these internal elections,” said Cde Nyakuedzwa.
