Zanu-PF primes for Harare comeback

ZANU-PF Harare Province has devised strategies to help wrestle back control of Harare City Council through securing council seats left vacant by opposition councillors who have left Town House.

The party plans to recruit over 500 000 registered voters in Harare before the next harmonised elections in 2023.

The party's Harare provincial chairperson, Goodwills Masimirembwa, told The Sunday Mail that the opposition is likely to be defeated because of its record of mismanaging the capital over the past two decades.

Last week, President Mnangagwa accused the MDC-run council of gross mismanagement and running down the city.

"What His Excellency the President said is the absolute truth: the MDC has failed the City of Harare," said Masimirembwa.

Harare has progressively deteriorated over the last 20 years, as service delivery has virtually ground to a halt.

"As ZANU-PF Harare, we are gearing ourselves to reclaim all council wards, whether in the forthcoming by-elections or during the next harmonised elections. What His Excellency has done is to uncover the truth about corruption and mismanagement by the MDC councillors."

In January, President Mnangagwa ordered a forensic audit into the affairs of the city.

Corruption at Town House, which predominantly involves the irregular parcelling out of land, has culminated in the arrest of former mayor, Herbert Gomba, his successor Jacob Mafume and several councillors.

Senior managers including town clerk Hosiah Chisango, housing director Addmore Nhekairo, city planner Priscilla Charumbira, finance director Tendai Kwenda, housing development officer Edgar Dzehonye, human capital director Cainos Chingombe and former acting human resources director Matthew Marara currently have cases before the courts.

"There was a misconception that land barons were outside of council. It has now become clear that the worst land barons were the senior executives and councillors in the City of Harare. The MDC has dismally failed the people.

"We call upon our members to report them to the corruption authorities," he said.

Masimirembwa said the reinstated District Coordinating Committees (DCCs) had injected fresh vibrancy into party structures and will be a springboard for success in 2023.

"The DCCs have executed this well and we are campaigning for by-elections as well as mobilising for the 2023 elections.

"Harare Province is targeting to have 500 000 registered voters for the 2023 harmonised elections and we have strategies to mobilise these supporters in place.

"The target we have as Harare is 500 000 registered voters for ZANU-PF by 2023."