Zanu-PF freezes primary elections

ASPIRING Zanu-PF legislators and councillors might have to wait a little more before their fate is decided after the party resolved last Wednesday to freeze the vetting process until after the adoption of a new constitution.

Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa said the party would need to be conversant with the new constitution's demands on elections, particularly clauses that deal with the conduct of elections.

"We want to be familiar with the constitution first," Mutasa told NewsDay.

"A lot will be involved with the new constitution. For example, the issue of constituencies, how many will be contested and how are others seconded through proportional representation."

The Zanu-PF politburo endorsed the draft constitution with amendments approved by the Global Political Agreement principals last Thursday.

The latest development is likely to irk the party's aspiring candidates, largely the "Young Turks", who of late have been accusing the old guard of attempting to lock them out by delaying the process.

This was after the party's commissariat proposed an array of stringent pre-qualification rules, among them, a move to bar people who have not been party cardholders for five consecutive years.

Sources who attended last Wednesday's politburo meeting said Zanu-PF had also resolved to restructure its Harare provincial structures after accusing the Amos Midzi-led executive of failing to rein in members of Chipangano, a suspected Zanu-PF militia.

Although Mutasa confirmed that the politburo had discussed the discord in Harare, he, however, denied allegations that Midzi would be redeployed.

"I am not aware that Midzi will be redeployed. Yes, we discussed the issue of Harare province and we were satisfied the province had everything under control. Midzi has the authority. He is the one in control of the province. We can only advise him on what to do."