SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe
Factionalism has reared its head once again within Robert Mugabe’s party, whose journey to primary elections has been rocked by fights and protests in recent days.
The party will be conducting a one day primary poll to choose which candidates will represent ZANU PF at national elections. This was set to be decided on Monday, but it was announced on Friday that the poll will instead take place two days later, on Wednesday.
In the meantime, the days leading up to the poll have been fraught with tension.
On Friday, the party’s Harare headquarters was the site of a demonstration by disgruntled supporters, left angered by the alleged imposition of candidates ahead of the one day primary. The demonstration also saw two journalists being detained by the ZANU PF members. Daily News reporter Wendy Muperi and Wonai Masvingise, an ex-Daily News staffer, were detained while they were covering the demo. They were released after half an hour.
On Thursday, other frustrated party members who were barred from contesting in the primaries, besieged the offices of ZANU PF chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo and political commissar Webster Shamu, demanding to be included on the final list of candidates.
That list was finalised on Wednesday and it is already clear that factionalism is driving the contest plans. Described as a ‘litmus test’ for the party ahead of the national elections, the primary is likely to be explosive as the factions vying for control of the party post-Mugabe, square off.
This includes the fight between Webster Shamu and Mashonaland West chairman John Mafa for the Chegutu West constituency. Shamu is a key member of the faction led by Vice-President Joice Mujuru while Mafa is in the camp led by Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Another fight includes that between national spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, reportedly a key member of the Mujuru faction in the Midlands, and former Labour minister July Moyo, one of the strategists in the Mnangagwa camp.
In Manicaland, the battle lines have also been drawn with Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa facing ARDA chairman Basil Nyabadza in Makoni Central. Chinamasa is a key member of the Mnangagwa faction in Manicaland, while Nyabadza is linked to the Mujuru faction through ZANU PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa. Mutasa is understood to be leading the Mujuru faction in Manicaland province, and he and Chinamasa have clashed repeatedly in recent months over political control.
The list of uncontested party heavyweights include Mujuru and Mnangagwa, national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo, Mutasa, politburo member Jonathan Moyo, Mines Minister Obert Mpofu, State Security Minister Sydney Sekeramayi, Lands Minster Hebert Murerwa and Women Affairs Minister Olivia Muchena. Observers have questioned why individuals like Moyo, considered a political ‘flip flopper’ is standing uncontested, while apparent party favourite Chinamasa has a tough battle.
It is widely understood that among the ZANU PF structures Chinamasa is not considered popular, despite the front that he is a top dog in the party. Sources have told SW Radio Africa that Chinamasa has been trying to curry favour among the party leadership to secure a position, but his place may be in doubt.
Political commentator and civil society leader Phillip Pasirayi told SW Radio Africa that ZANU PF primaries are all about the two factions trying to “outwit each other,” saying it is all a battle for succession. He explained that speculation is rife that if ZANU PF wins the next election, Mugabe will immediately name a successor and this is heightening tensions ahead of the primary.
“So this primary election is all about that succession fight. We know ZANU PF is dogged by infighting, and if the hierarchy doesn’t control it, it will spill over into the general elections,” Pasirayi warned.
He also questioned the caliber of some candidates vying to represent Zimbabweans at the polls, including war vets leader Joseph Chinotimba, known to be a violent ZANU PF apologist, a murderer and a rapist.
“This is why civic education has been so important, because the electorate needs to know that they should be voting for people with a national agenda that has their interests at heart, not people like Chinotimba,” Pasirayi said.
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