Some in Zanu (PF) behave strange: Mutasa

Mutasa said Zanu (PF) has run smooth elections in the past but irregularities characterising the ongoing provincial polls were cause for serious concern.

He said the ugly scenes marring the provincial elections were sad manifestations of ‘different ways of thinking within Zanu (PF).

Though Mutasa was not in a position to pre-empt the Saturday Politburo crisis management meeting agenda, he said the party decision making body would read the riot Act and nip the nuisance in the bud.

“We are putting the election squabbles to rest at the Politburo meeting scheduled for this Saturday and ensure the polls reach finality. Zanu (PF) has a way of harmonising a divergence of mindsets and this we will do,” Mutasa told The Zimbabwean in a telephone interview.

Mutasa who is also the party secretary for administration, dismissed fears that the fierce in-house jostling for power might spill into the Zanu (PF) national congress scheduled for Chinhoyi early next year.

According to Mutasa, the muddied elections would go ahead as planned and any grievances by contestants would be entertained later.

“Yes our polls would proceed and any complaints will be heard later. Each complaint would be given justice and the unjustified will be thrown out,” Mutasa said.

He said Zanu (PF) had so far conducted successful elections in two provinces, while results for the Mashonaland Central would be confirmed after the electoral process leading to the outcome has been examined on Saturday.

The in-house fighting was partly blamed on the quest for power by ambitious top party officials.

Zanu (PF) national chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo, announced the postponement of elections in the remaining seven provinces on Monday, until the special Politburo meeting has set on Saturday when the party first secretary, Robert Mugabe, has returned from Kuwait.

Moyo said the remaining elections would be held on one day from 7am to 7pm.

Inside sources told The Zimbabwean that election results for Midlands, Manicaland and Mashonaland provinces were shelved amid fears that ‘the winners were not the desired candidates’.

Results of polls in the provinces were disputed amid allegations of massive rigging, disenfranchisement and other irregularities.

Stakes are high while the situation remained tense at the provincial elections, as Zanu (PF) factions position themselves for the eventual takeover of Mugabe throne.

Rifts between the Emmerson Mnangagwa and Joice Mujuru led factions were widening with each day, as the two camps would reportedly exchange harsh words at party meetings.

Observers have said Zanu (PF) would finally explode at the coming congress and fragment into insignificant pieces.

"Daggers will be drawn at the Zanu (PF) congress with far reaching consequences for the former revolutionary party, since the warring factions have taken off their gloves ahead of the potentially bruising succession fight," said an analyst on condition of anonymity.