Last week, party supporters from Mutasa South thronged the provincial offices in Mutare demonstrating against the move to bar Regai Tsunga from standing against the incumbent and former mayor, Misheck Kagurabadza.
James told The Zimbabwean that Tsunga`s name was struck off the party`s primary election list after Kagurabadza and Chikanga-Dangamvura legislator Giles Mutsekwa told the National Council on April 3 that he was a security risk, as he had allegedly organised the Bob@89 Golf tourney in honour of President Robert Mugabe.
Tsunga is the chairperson of the Hillside Golf Club committee. James, a former president of the club, backed the protest, saying the move to bar Tsunga was undemocratic. “In my view, he is not a risk to the party. The club is run professionally. We must be as democratic as possible. Democracy is all about accommodating different political views and we should show political maturity by associating with people from different political persuasions,” said James.
“People should be able to choose their leadership through properly organized elections. What is happening is being done by people who are trying to protect their turf,” he said, adding that the executive would meet at the end of the week to discuss about the nominations of candidates.
James has thrown his hat into the ring for the Chikanga-Dangamvura constituency, currently under the party`s intelligence chief Giles Mutsekwa. “There are still fears that Minister Chombo might bar me from running for mayor, so I have decided to stand for Dangamvura-Chikanga. But I am still interested in running for mayor because I believe I have unfinished business at the local authority,” he said.
Post published in: News