BY STAFF REPORTER
President of the Chief’s Council Fortune Charumbira who openly declared traditional leaders’ support of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s re-election bid next year has noted that chaotic Zanu PF primary elections were costing the ruling party.
Charumbira who was speaking at Zanu PF’s 7th National People’s Congress last week noted that vote buying by fly-by-night politicians during primary elections was creating chaos and subsequently saw the party losing votes to its rivals.
“We now have a presidential candidate. The problem may come during primaries. Think straight on primaries. Many of them have a lot of rigging. Truly, look for the people’s favourite. This issue has been said at conferences and congresses but when towards voting it’s not settled well. We are losing votes because of how primaries are organized. The political commissar (Mike Bimha) is here, I will sit down with him,” .
he said
“We have to strengthen the primary election system because all loopholes are there. Every congress across the world it’s said we need new blood. We don’t deny that but the problem that I saw in some constituencies is that the person who will contest in the primaries isn’t in this country. The person is in South Africa right now,”
“When it’s primaries you see cars with South African registration plates moving around. When you ask who the person is, it will be just said, ‘this is the child for this family’. Next time you hear that the person won. When did the people know the person? He just dished out money. Let’s not destroy our party by the language of new blood. Work with chiefs and village heads to assist you.”
he said
Zanu PF chairperson Oppah Muchinguri warned against malpractices during party primary elections.
“Rigging elections, vote buying and making your own structures without winning. That will haunt you. This nation was fought for. You will be caught,” she said.
she said.
Charumbira also expressed concern over politicisation of the distribution of food and presidential inputs something which he also said cost Zanu PF.
In reaction Muchinguri said: “Good meat market itself. Charumbira said good works are being done by the President. Ask yourself, ‘how are my works?’ The president is doing a lot to leave no one behind. But as he distributes things us evil people are taking those things making them ours. Shame on us! God will be watching us taking t-shirts, rice and fertilisers not giving to the people. Don’t spoil the good meat, chocolate.”
