Zanu-PF structures row exposes rigging

ZANU-PF's internal power struggles could have unintentionally exposed how the party conducts elections and vindicated the opposition, which often accuses the ruling party of rigging polls.

The brawl between factions in the party seeking to impose a council candidate in Harare East's ward 46 this week opened a can of worms, after the party's Mashonaland East provincial executive wrote to their Harare counterparts, requesting for a resolution of the boundary dispute between the two provinces.

In a letter to political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, Harare East legislator, Terrence Mukupe is accused of interfering with activities in Mashonaland East.

"I write this letter after numerous requests from the local leadership to have this matter resolved urgently.

"It has been reported that Mukupe is encroaching and interfering with Mashonaland East programmes in Caledonia. This will result in (the) formation of parallel structures.

"Please, may you intervene and resolve the matter, as per our agreement that we will follow the Zec (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) boundaries," wrote the Mashonaland East commissar, identified only as Ngoshi.

On the other hand, a flurry of letters seen by NewsDay, shows that Mukupe and his supporters are demanding that Zanu-PF sticks to its rules and dumps the Zec boundaries that the other faction wants to use.

A senior member of the Mashonaland East provincial executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the plan had been to use party structures on the eastern fringes of Harare to win the upcoming council by-election.

"The idea was to use those structures to win elections. The same thing happens in Harare South, the people in Harare should have just requested for our (Mashonaland East) structures for the purpose of the council by-election," a source claimed.

"The problem is Mukupe now wants to expropriate our people. It could cost us in 2018."

Mukupe this week said he was only demanding that party rules be followed.

"This has nothing to do with physical boundaries, but people want to rig elections. I have politburo members, including the President, in my constituency, and none of them vote in this area," he said.

"The people, who make up the structures they are clamouring for, have been part of Harare East since 1994 and are currently on our voters' roll."

Mukupe has warned that Zanu-PF could lose the seat if the tampering with structures by Harare political commissar, Shadreck Mashayamombe is left unchecked, although the latter denies interfering.