This gives credence to what has been repeatedly claimed by political analysts that the dividing line between the military and the Zanu (PF) wing of government is seriously blurred, with senior army officers regarding themselves first and foremost as politicians rather than professional soldiers.
Brigadier General Callisto Gwanetsa is eying the Chiredzi senatorial seat while Brigadier General Livingstone Chineka is eying the Zaka seat. Former Bikita West legislator and journalist Colonel Claudius Makova is gunning for the Bikita senatorial seat, while Brigadier General Victor Rungani wants to be one of the legislators in Bikita.
Brigadier Gibson Mashingaidze is also understood to be interested in running for a parliamentary seat in Bikita, his home area.
In Gutu, where the late former army commander, General Vitalis Zvinavashe, was trounced in the 2008 elections by little known Empire Makamure of the MDC-T , Colonel Mutero Masanganise is reportedly gunning for the senatorial seat.
Barely a month after the death of Higher Education minister Stan Mudenge, who was Masvingo north legislator, Colonel Davis Marapira openly declared his interest to take over the reins. He has already started campaigning in Masvingo North constituency – although Zanu (PF) says no-one should campaign before being given the nod by the national leadership.
In Masvingo West former executive mayor candidate Major Bernard Mazarire has declared his interest to wrestle the seat from the MDC-T. In Masvingo urban former United People’s Party president, now a Zanu (PF) member, Colonel Daniel Shumba wants to snatch the seat from the MDC-T.
Contacted for comment, Zanu (PF) Masvingo provincial chairman Lovemore Matuke said it was too early for anyone to start campaigning as they were still awaiting a signal from the party leadership.
“It is not bad for people to strategically position themselves, but it might cause confusion within the party,” said Matuke. “We do not mind whether one is a former soldier or not. If he is chosen by the people he will be allowed to represent them – but there is no such policy where we say members of the army have to get special treatment.”
The party’s national spokesman Rugare Gumbo has said the politburo will meet soon to come up with modalities and principles to be followed when holding party primary elections. There has been speculation that the army will not allow anyone without “liberation war credentials” to rule the country.
This has been interpreted to mean that the army will not allow Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to rule even if he wins the next poll. However analysts have warned that the militarisation crusade by Mugabe’s party will lead to an agonizing defeat. They say Mugabe should confine soldiers to the barracks if he wants to snatch meaningful votes in the next election.
Soldiers standing
Bikita – Brigadier Gibson Mashingaidze
Bikita – Brigadier General Victor Rungani
Masvingo West – Major Benard Mazarire
Bikita – Colonel Claudius Makova
Chiredzi – Brigadier General Callisto Gwanetsa
Gutu – Colonel Mutero Masanganise
Masvingo North – Colonel Davis Marapira
Masvingo urban – Colonel Daniel Shumba
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Will Mugabe’s militarization crusade lead to Zanu (PF)’s defeat at the polls? Please tell us: .
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Dear Sir.ZANU PF will never and has never won a free and fair election.They are so desperate to stay in power.They have manipulated every election since 1980 when the majority voted for the first time in the absence of a voter’s roll and census.The former ruling party will try to use all the tricks like militarisation of the voting system, fielding soldiers etc.This can only make them loose more.But they do not have to accept the results if they lose again.They dont have to wait for results to be announced because they are part of the process.No court action is required by them to stop the announcement of the election results if they dont like them