Zanu-PF, MDC-T expel rebels PDF Print E-mail 1 Monday, 01 July 2013 00:36 View Comments [Cde Shamu] Cde Shamu Takunda Maodza Senior Reporter Zanu-PF and MDC-T have expelled all members who filed their papers with the nomination court on Friday to contest as independents in various parliamentary and local government wards in harmonised polls set for July 31. Although the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said the full list of candidates who successfully filed their papers with the nomination court might be ready today, results on the ground reveal that scores of disgruntled members filed papers to stand as independents countrywide after either losing primary elections or being barred from contesting. Both parties also had the ignominy of having more than one candidate successfully file papers as official candidates in one constituency, a sure bet for dividing votes in favour of rivals. Lawyer Mr Anold Tsunga and MDC-T secretary for defence Mr Giles Mutsekwa filed for the MDC-T ticket in Dangamvura- Chikanga while Dr Munyaradzi Kereke and Cde Ellias Musakwa successfully filed as Zanu-PF candidates in Bikita West. A number of Zanu-PF members, among them former Manicaland provincial chairman Mike Madiro (Mutare North), Dorothy Mabika (Chipinge Central), Marian Chombo (Zvimba North), Daniel Garwe (Murehwa North), Richard Mavhunga (Marondera Central), Rumbidzai Mujuru (Chikomba Central), Machiri (Mutare Central), Shylet Uyoyo (Bikita South) and Jonathan Samukange (Mudzi South), filed their nomination papers last Friday as independent candidates. MDC-T members also chose to stand as rebel candidates after losing in primary elections, some under controversial circumstances. These include Mr Geoffrey Nyarota (Makoni South), Gerald Chitsa (Gutu North), Moses Mare (Chiredzi West), Felix Magalela Sibanda (Magwegwe), Regai Tsunga (Mutasa South), Kidwell Mujuru (Luveve-Cowdray Park), Samuel Sandla Khumalo (Pelandaba-Mpopoma), Carlos Mudzongo (Marondera Central), Cleopas Machacha (Kariba), Tonderai Kusemamuriwo (Magunje), Nicholas Chigwende (Hurungwe Central), Enerst Mudimu (Chegutu West), Christopher Maonera (Mhondoro-Mubaira) and Severino Chambati (Hurungwe West). Names of scores of other officials who defied their parties will be ready today. Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Webster Shamu, yesterday said all who filed as independents automatically dismissed themselves the moment they tendered their papers. This is a standing rule Zanu-PF has been implementing for years. “Anyone standing as an independent has automatically expelled himself and herself from the party,” he said. Cde Shamu said Zanu-PF would not accommodate those expelled in the party again. “Anyone contesting as an independent will not be accepted back in the party. Some are going around masquerading as if they have the blessings of the party to participate in the elections as independent candidates. It is not true. People should completely shun them. Some of them are going around chanting the party slogan trying to identify themselves with Zanu-PF. They are applying naïve political gimmicks to mislead the electorate,” he said. Prof Moyo, who stood as an independent in the 2008 elections, appealed to Zanu-PF members who filed papers as independents to withdraw their candidature describing his similar 2005/8 move as a “horrible and miserable” experience. He said the Zanu-PF members had made their point and “now they must make their party’s and people’s point” by withdrawing their candidature, adding that being an independent was unwise, misguided and career threatening. “I, therefore, really from a very profound sense of reflection based on my own unfortunate experience and on the poor performance of independents in the last seven elections, want to appeal to my esteemed comrades who have chosen to run as independents to think again and do so very hard and very objectively. I appeal to the comrades to withdraw their nominations while there is still time to do so. It would be very revolutionary for them to do so,” Prof Moyo told our sister paper, The Sunday Mail. But Mr Samkange was adamant yesterday insisting that he was the people’s choice in Mudzi South. “I am campaigning right now as l speak to you. The President made it clear at conference that there should be no imposition of candidates and that all candidates must come from the people. The people want me and there is no doubt about that. Ndini ndakabva kuvanhu and should represent the party. Who is wrong, me who is wanted by the people and one who imposes a candidate on the people? Zanu-PF is a people’s party and whoever imposed a candidate is the one who is wrong, not me,” he said. Mr Samkange added: “I am saying vote President Mugabe, vote me as MP, vote Zanu-PF councillors and Senators. Vote Zanu-PF candidates under proportional representation. The only point of departure is that I am saying vote me in the House of Assembly. There is no splitting of votes at all.” MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora, described party rebels who opted to contest as independents as good riddance. “The party does not owe them any duty anymore. They are actually opponents of the party. Such persons are good riddance because they could actually sponsor divisions while in the party. They are clear-cut opponents of the party and how would you strategise with them. Strategising with them is like strategising with our opponent Zanu-PF,” Mr Mwonzora said. Harmonised elections are due on July 31 with five presidential candidates - President Mugabe (Zanu-PF), Mr Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T), Professor Welshman Ncube (MDC), Dr Dumiso Dabengwa (Zapu) and Mr Kisinoti Mukwazhe (ZDP) - eyeing the highest office.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 09:43:44 +0000
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