News / National
Top lawyer disqualified from Zanu-PF primaries
07 Mar 2012 at 04:23hrs | Views
THE Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial leadership has disqualified prominent lawyer Jonathan Samukange from taking part in Mudzi South party primary elections. They argued that Samukange was not in party structures.
The polls are expected to be held once dates of the national harmonised elections are known. Provincial chairman Ray Kaukonde said Cde Samukange was supposed to first join the party from the village level if he was interested in representing Zanu-PF.
Samukange yesterday told The Herald that he was in the party structures and insisted he will contest in the constituency.
He said he had tried on several occasions to contest in previous primary elections but was denied the right to stand.
"If they are saying I am not in the structures then I want to know who removed me because as far as I am concerned I am secretary for legal affairs in Godzi District.
"I will definitely stand in the primary elections. I don't need to worry myself because I have been advised that now you do not need to be in any structures to contest in the primary elections," Samukange said.
Kaukonde said the provincial leadership had received complaints from Godzi District in Mudzi South that Samukange had been smuggled into the party district without following laid down procedures.
"Our provincial political commissar (Tendai) Makunde received complaints that a party district member had been removed to impose Samkange.
"We understand Samkange claimed to have blessings from some Politburo members but as a province we say there are party procedures that can't be compromised," he said.
The polls are expected to be held once dates of the national harmonised elections are known. Provincial chairman Ray Kaukonde said Cde Samukange was supposed to first join the party from the village level if he was interested in representing Zanu-PF.
Samukange yesterday told The Herald that he was in the party structures and insisted he will contest in the constituency.
He said he had tried on several occasions to contest in previous primary elections but was denied the right to stand.
"If they are saying I am not in the structures then I want to know who removed me because as far as I am concerned I am secretary for legal affairs in Godzi District.
"I will definitely stand in the primary elections. I don't need to worry myself because I have been advised that now you do not need to be in any structures to contest in the primary elections," Samukange said.
Kaukonde said the provincial leadership had received complaints from Godzi District in Mudzi South that Samukange had been smuggled into the party district without following laid down procedures.
"Our provincial political commissar (Tendai) Makunde received complaints that a party district member had been removed to impose Samkange.
"We understand Samkange claimed to have blessings from some Politburo members but as a province we say there are party procedures that can't be compromised," he said.
Source - herald
