Parties gear for elections

Political parties have shifted their attention to the general elections to be held by June 29, with Zanu-PF expected to unveil its manifesto in a fortnight, while the MDC-T elections directorate is expected to make pronouncements on its primary elections next week.

The move by the political parties follows the successful holding of the constitutional referendum last weekend which saw the majority of voters endorsing the draft.

Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Rugare Gumbo said a special Politburo meeting would soon be convened to adopt the manifesto and rules and guidelines for primary elections.

"The referendum is over and was well supported, but we are now focusing on the harmonised elections and as a party we are working on various programmes to make sure we get a resounding win," he said.

"We are also working on the manifesto of the party and it will be out in the next two weeks. The manifesto will highlight the achievements of the party in the various fields of education, health and agriculture.

"It will also outline the various initiatives that the party has embarked on like the land reform programme and the ongoing indigenisation drive. The manifesto will show that as Zanu-PF we have the welfare of Zimbabweans at heart."

Gumbo said Zanu-PF embarked on a massive recruitment drive of new members while consolidating its structures and recruiting members ahead of the elections.

"The recruitment of new members is being done to enhance the capacity of the party to win the elections," he said.

"A special Politburo meeting will be convened in the coming weeks and this will deal with the rules and regulations governing the conduct of primary elections."

Zanu-PF has indicated that the indigenisation and empowerment drive would form the bedrock of its campaign in the harmonised elections.

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said the MDC-T was getting ready for the elections.

"As a party, the MDC-T is prepared for a free and fair election and next week the elections directorate would be making an announcement on when the primary elections will be held," he said.

"Our manifesto will also be unveiled at a date yet to be decided, but I just want to say we have a comprehensive plan of how an MDC-T-led government will run the country."

The selection of MDC-T candidates has caused fissures within the party with some prospective candidates accusing the leadership of preventing sitting parliamentarians from being challenged.

The prospective candidates are not happy with the controversial confirmation exercise that would virtually exempt sitting legislators from primary elections.

Under the exercise the sitting MPs would have to garner at least two thirds support from structures in their respective constituencies, failing which they would be put to a primary election.

Prospective candidates have said the exercise was open to manipulation.

Last year the party launched its blueprint dubbed JUICE (Jobs, Upliftment, Investment, Conservation and Environment) but that has been criticised for its reliance on donor funds.

MDC spokesperson Mr Kurauone Chihwayi said his party was ready and would conclude its selection of candidates by the end of the month.

"We have been receiving applications from prospective candidates since the end of January and we hope this excercise will be completed before the end of this month," he said.

"In cases where we have more than one candidate, primary elections will be held. However, as a party we are ready for the elections and will compete in every ward and constituency."

Mr Chihwayi said their policy blueprint called ACTIONS (Access to resources, Control, Transformation, Innovation, Organised institutions, New technologies and Sustainability) sets out their policy initiatives on various issues.

The watershed elections are expected to end the inclusive Government that brings together Zanu-PF, MDC-T and the MDC.