D-day for aspiring Zanu-PF candidates

The Zanu-PF primary elections roar into life today in all the country's provinces with candidates battling it out to represent the party in the council, Senatorial and National Assembly during the harmonised elections.

Yesterday contesting candidates in all categories held campaigns in their respective constituencies. Zanu-PF National Chairman and head of the party's National Election Directorate (NED) Simon Khaya Moyo said it was all systems go for the primary elections.Some cadres who had been disqualified were cleared to run on the party's ticket.

Central Committee member Isau Mupfumi and Mash Central Governor Martin Dinha withdrew their candidature for Mutare North and Bindura South constituencies, respectively, citing personal and professional reasons.

In Bulawayo, those who voluntarily pulled out include  Peter Baka Nyoni who was contesting Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube in Makokoba. It could not be established who among the six candidates who launched appeals had made it into the race today.

Zanu-PF supporters from six constituencies last Friday besieged the party's national headquarters in Harare to protest the disqualification of their preferred candidates. The disgruntled supporters were from Bikita West's (Munyaradzi Kereke), Zvimba North (Marian Chombo), Mhangura (Precious Chinhamo Masango), Muzvezve (Spiwe Mhungu), Goromonzi West (Energy Mutodi) and Mutoko South (Herbert Shumbamhini).

Daily News says the process has been chaotic with no ballot boxes, ballot paper, indelible ink, voters' roll and disrupting school activities countrywide. Due to the absence of proper logistics, fears are that the primaries will be littered with violence.