First Lady bid to anoint successor backfires

Protests have hit Chirumanzu-Zivagwe Constituency after First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa allegedly imposed a candidate who came fourth in the just-ended Zanu PF primaries to take over the seat she left when she stepped down early this year.

Fuming demonstrators accused Mnangagwa of imposing Prosper Machando, her close ally as the candidate ahead of successful business Crispen Thomu who is said have won the primaries with an overwhelming majority.

Efforts to get a comment from the First Lady were fruitless.

Zanu PF Midlands provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri confirmed the debacle and public anger but said the situation was caused by confusion in the voting process that initially saw Thomu being declared the winner. He said Thomu was declared winner before voting was done in three wards that are close to the City of Kwekwe.

"I am filling complaints with the party and if the decision is not changed, I will decide later to stand as an independent candidate or focus on my business," said Thomu.