Prepare for polls this year, VP Nkomo says

Vice President John Nkomo has told his Zanu-PF Bulawayo structures to get ready for elections this year.

Nkomo said elections would be held with or without a new constitution.

"Comrades be ready for elections this year. You should start campaigning now and we believe we have vast potential to win," said Nkomo during Zanu-PF Regional Meeting at Elangeni Training Centre on Sunday.

Bulawayo province is rocked with factions and members a wrestling for positions.

Since 2000, it has failed to win a parliamentary seat.

 On Wednesday, Zanu-PF is expected to hold is politburo meeting in Harare where elections preparations are in the agenda.

"Am off to Harare today (Monday) for our politburo meeting.  Various things are on the agenda but elections are on high on the agenda. We must go for elections" said a Bulawayo based politburo member.


However, South Africa's Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane on Monday told Parliament that Zimbabwe should not have elections without a new constitution.

"The GPA envisages that an election in Zimbabwe will only be held following the finalisation of the constitution-making process," said Nkoana-Mashabane in a reply to a parliamentary question.

"Our government therefore expects that there would be no deviation from the provisions of the GPA," she added.