SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe
The political careers of several ZANU PF heavyweights may come tumbling down on Tuesday in the party’s internal selection process to choose its parliamentary and senatorial candidates for the upcoming general elections.
A good number of high profile figures in ZANU PF have opted for senatorial seats, fearing they would not be able to defend their parliamentary seats from the emerging threat of young turks. Initially the primaries were scheduled for Monday. At the end of last week that changed to Wednesday, after supporters demonstrated at the party headquarters against the imposition of candidates.
Then that date changed again, to Tuesday. Party chairman Simon Khaya-Moyo told the state media that given the fact that parliamentary and council candidates are required to register their nominations at the electoral commission offices throughout the country on Wednesday, the primary elections would now take place the day before.
A few candidates have qualified without being contested and these include Vice President Joice Mujuru and Emmerson Mnangagwa, the alleged faction leaders in ZANU PF.
Sydney Sekeramai, Khaya-Moyo, Olivia Muchena, Ambros Mutinhiri, Obert Mpofu, Walter Mzembi, David Parirenyatwa, Herbert Murerwa, Angeline Masuku, Didymus Mutasa, Naison Ndlovu, Abigail Damasani, Flora Buka and Jonathan Moyo are also among those uncontested.
However big guns like party spokesman Rugare Gumbo, Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo and Webster Shamu, the party’s national commissar, will fight for their political lives as they face challengers in their backyards. In Chegutu East Shamu will battle it out with John Mafa, the Mashonaland West provincial chairman, while Chombo will face Innocent Matibiri, a close relative of President Robert Mugabe.
Gumbo faces July Moyo, an ally of Mnangagwa in the Mberengwa senatorial seat. Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa squares up against Arda board chairman Basil Nyabadza, in what is seen as a bruising no-holds barred battle.
Our correspondent in Harare, Simon Muchemwa, told us that as in the MDC-T primaries, a lot of party heavy weights in ZANU PF will lose the right to represent the party in elections.
‘This is going to be a tough battle for most sitting MPs considering that they have been legislators for more than 10 years and have nothing to show for it in terms of development in their respective constituencies,’ Muchemwa said.
Meanwhile in the MDC-T’s internal election process Giles Mutsekwa, the Housing and Social Amenities Minister, failed the confirmation exercise in Chikanga Dangamvura constituency in Manicaland.
MDC-T provincial chairman Julius Magarangoma said Mutsekwa polled only 165 votes against 195 No votes. He will now face prominent human rights lawyer Arnold Tsunga in the primary election on Wednesday.