News / National
Zanu-PF chairman calls for free and fair primaries
11 Jun 2013 at 05:21hrs | Views
ACTING Zanu-PF Manicaland chairman, Retired Lieutenant-General Mike Nyambuya, has stressed the need for the party supporters in the province to unite and scrutinise aspiring candidates to contest in the party's primary elections so that they choose leaders who will live up to their word when given the mandate to rule.
He was speaking at a Zanu-PF inter-district meeting in Makoni on Sunday.
Zanu-PF national secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa had earlier on attended the meeting and told attendees to support Nyambuya's initiative to unite the party.
Nyambuya, who was thrust at the party helm after the suspension of Mike Madiro and his deputy, Dorothy Mabika, has also toured Buhera, Chipinge, Nyanga, Chimanimani, Zimunya-Marange introducing his new political catchphrase "yes we can."
In what is considered by many as an implicit acknowledgement of serious turf war within Manicaland, Nyambuya, said the forthcoming primary elections were an important political test ahead of national elections, which the constitutional court ruled must be held on or before July 31.
He said Zanu-PF will condemn itself into the political dust bin if it enters this year's election divided.
"Primary elections are coming, but we cannot all be leaders at once. Candidates must start preparing now. We are going for free and fair primary elections," said Nyambuya.
The former Manicaland Provincial Governor and Minister of Energy and Power Development, said there would be "no sacred cows" and those cadres who meet the selection criteria and believe can add value to the party can contest and only candidates who win free and fair primaries will represent the party.
He said factionalism and imposition of candidates would not be tolerated as they were the twin evils that caused even its traditional rural strongholds to suffer extensive penetration by opposition politics in 2008.
Zanu-PF's hegemony in Manicaland was eroded by imposition of candidates, a costly decision which resulted in the fielding of dual candidacies, which sparked factional and leadership wrangles in the province.
"There were problems. The infighting has been sharp and frequent, sometimes even at public platforms and these divisions were being caused by the leaders. It is wrong for the leaders to divide the people," said Nyambuya.
Turning to the crowd, he said: "You are also to blame because you are allowing yourselves to be used and divided. You are being manipulated. Muri kubvuma kuitwa vanhu vevatungamiriri.
"This is what has corrupted the party, brought hatred and infighting into the party. If we unite, plug all loopholes, we can win all seats in Manicaland.
"Yes we can if we say we can," said Nyambuya.
He said Zanu-PF should do more to entice the youths.
"We are digging our own grave if we fail to take them on board. The youths are the majority of voters, together with women.
"We can leave them out at our own peril. We also have to lure those who are sitting on the fence. Let us persuade them to come back to Zanu-PF," said Nyambuya.
His sentiments were also echoed by Justice Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, who said it was important for cadres to co-exist with one another during campaigns and refrain from practices that would not promote peace and development of the region.
He was speaking at a Zanu-PF inter-district meeting in Makoni on Sunday.
Zanu-PF national secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa had earlier on attended the meeting and told attendees to support Nyambuya's initiative to unite the party.
Nyambuya, who was thrust at the party helm after the suspension of Mike Madiro and his deputy, Dorothy Mabika, has also toured Buhera, Chipinge, Nyanga, Chimanimani, Zimunya-Marange introducing his new political catchphrase "yes we can."
In what is considered by many as an implicit acknowledgement of serious turf war within Manicaland, Nyambuya, said the forthcoming primary elections were an important political test ahead of national elections, which the constitutional court ruled must be held on or before July 31.
He said Zanu-PF will condemn itself into the political dust bin if it enters this year's election divided.
"Primary elections are coming, but we cannot all be leaders at once. Candidates must start preparing now. We are going for free and fair primary elections," said Nyambuya.
The former Manicaland Provincial Governor and Minister of Energy and Power Development, said there would be "no sacred cows" and those cadres who meet the selection criteria and believe can add value to the party can contest and only candidates who win free and fair primaries will represent the party.
He said factionalism and imposition of candidates would not be tolerated as they were the twin evils that caused even its traditional rural strongholds to suffer extensive penetration by opposition politics in 2008.
"There were problems. The infighting has been sharp and frequent, sometimes even at public platforms and these divisions were being caused by the leaders. It is wrong for the leaders to divide the people," said Nyambuya.
Turning to the crowd, he said: "You are also to blame because you are allowing yourselves to be used and divided. You are being manipulated. Muri kubvuma kuitwa vanhu vevatungamiriri.
"This is what has corrupted the party, brought hatred and infighting into the party. If we unite, plug all loopholes, we can win all seats in Manicaland.
"Yes we can if we say we can," said Nyambuya.
He said Zanu-PF should do more to entice the youths.
"We are digging our own grave if we fail to take them on board. The youths are the majority of voters, together with women.
"We can leave them out at our own peril. We also have to lure those who are sitting on the fence. Let us persuade them to come back to Zanu-PF," said Nyambuya.
His sentiments were also echoed by Justice Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, who said it was important for cadres to co-exist with one another during campaigns and refrain from practices that would not promote peace and development of the region.
Source - manica post
