Though viewed as a rotting and rural based political party, whose pre-election conduct is associated with intimidation, violence, propaganda, vote buying and rigging, it is also true and factual that discipline and rigorous preparations chatacterise them.
With the by-elections being imminent, ZANU- PF party is already set to conduct primary elections to elect a candidate to stand for the party in the looming Kwekwe Central Constituency.
The seat fell vacant following the death of the MP elect, Masango ‘Blackman’ Matambanadzo in July who had been elected on a National Patriotic Front (NPF) ticket. He was also the ZANU PF candidate in the 2013 to 2018 after defeating the MDC -T and hitherto, MDCA candidate Blessing Chebundo.
In the previous election, Blackman as he was popularly known won against MDC Alliance’, Blessing Chebundo, Kandros Mugabe of ZanuPF and independent candidate and lawyer Josiniah Maupa.
His death opened Kwekwe for a by-election. Businessman cum clergyman, Cde Kandros Mugabe will battle it out with miner and philanthropist Energy ‘Dhala’ Ncube.
ZANU PF only confirmed these two to stand in the primary election that is set for the weekend. Both candidates have already started to campaign for the party’s primary election whose dates are yet to be announced.
They are the only two ZANU PF candidates who threw their hats into the ring and have since been given the green light to contest in the primary poll.
Midlands Provincial party spokesman Cde Cornelius Mpereri confirmed the latest development.
This is contrary to the two MDC camps where there is battle over the control of party resources including the brand and party name MDCA.
The MDCA is most likely going to be forced in a primary election featuring Judith Tobaiwa, former Minister of Health, Henry Madzorera and former Kwekwe Central MP, Blessing Chebundo. Both have not yet started to campaign.
On the other hand, the Thokozani Khupe led MDCT, hitherto MDC-A is also set to announce the candidates and the party name. This was confirmed by the interim SG, Douglass Mwonzora addressing the journalists when he broke the social media with a saying, “we have (the name for the party)’ ‘We will tell you.“
Consequently, the two factions are going to divide the vote and give advantage to the ZANU PF. Again, it is not clear on whether NPF will field a candidate to claim their one and only constituency.
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