Sources among the representatives of all the 23 wards who attended the meeting told The Zimbabwean that allegations of voting buying during the recent Zanu (PF) District Coordinating Committee elections took centre stage, with some of the delegates accusing aspiring member of parliament and senior Zanu (PF) youth official, Joshua Sacco of rigging.
Sacco’s faction, believed to be aligned to Emmerson Mnangagwa swept all the DCC’s posts. His personal body guard, Brighton Muchuwa was elected the DCC chairperson.
“During the meeting, the army chefs demanded a ward-by-ward report on what transpired during the elections. Some losing candidates accused Sacco’s faction of rigging the elections. There were also complaints about why the party was keeping a white guy in its structures,” said a source who attended the meeting.
Senior army officers present included officer commanding Harare province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Clement Munoriarwa, National Railways of Zimbabwe chief executive officer, retired Air Commodore Michel Karakadzai and Brigadier-General Mike Sango.
War Veterans leader Joseph Chinotimba, senior official Enoch Porusungazi and MP, Samuel Undenge also attended. The soldiers promised to come back in the next few weeks with a decision to either nullify the elections results or endorse them.
During the meeting the soldiers also made it clear that Zanu (PF) should win the next elections at all costs. The secretary for commissariat, Webster Shamu, was last week ordered by the politburo to carry out a thorough audit of the elections and nullify the results where necessary.
Army commanders and senior police officers, some of whom want to be candidates in the next elections have taken over Zanu (PF)’s campaign drive.
Sacco’s secretary’s personal secretary, one Manyange, answered his mobile phone when reached for comment. “I am sorry Mr Sacco is not available for comment. He has travelled and will only be available next week,” said the secretary.
Party spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo, recently told The Zimbabwean he was not yet ready to comment on the army’s involvement in the party’s internal politics.
Post published in: News