…youths demanding positions in the party
MUTARE-There was chaos at Zanu (PF) party provincial party headquarters yesterday when irate supporters aligned to Vice President Joice Mujuru faction besieged the office demanding immediate resignation of the executive led by Mike Madiro.
The protest follows Mutare`s Saturday District Coordination Committee (DCC) elections which the rival supporters described as “sham”.
Supporters came from districts such Makoni, Nyanga and Mutare and were waving placards denouncing Madiro and his executive for spearheading cohesion, intimidation and imposition.
Madiro who is allegedly aligned to Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa faction.
Joseph Mavhiza from Mujuru faction lost dismally to the incumbent Walter Muparutsa who is aligned to Munangagwa faction. They were locking horns in 34 districts in Mutare district but rival supporters said they were a lot of irregularities and fraud.
“We want Madiro and his committee to immediately step down and pave way for a new presiding authority. We need fresh elections soon not this sham.Madiro is trying to tilt the power in favour of Munangagwa faction but we will not allow that to happen,”said one protester who was waving a placard inscribed “Zanu (PF) is not a private property”.
Party supporters said Madiro nullified the elections after he realized that candidates from his faction had lost.
Zanu (PF) deputy party spokesperson, Charles Samuriwo distanced himself from the Madiro executive, saying “supporters have spoken out their mind”.
“People of Manicaland have spontaneously came together in a resolution of their party in expressing their constitutional right to an audience with senior members of the party over inability or clear bias experienced in the conduct of party elections by presiding authority in Makoni,Nyanga and Mutare,”he said.
Madiro was not reachable for comment as his phone went unanswered.
Political analysts said Zanu (PF) still has a lot to do to gain the confidence of the electorate who voted for the opposition in 2008
The Zanu (PF) national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo is on record as saying the party will not tolerate any candidates imposition because it costed the party in 2008 harmonised elections.
Post published in: News