Former senior cops land Zanu-PF posts

HARDLY four months after Assistant Commissioner Oliver Mandipaka and Senior Assistant Commissioner Ronald Muderedzwa traded their police regalia for a Zanu-PF ticket to Parliament, the pair moved another rung up the political ladder over the weekend following their election into the party's Manicaland provincial structures.

Mandipaka and Muderedzwa, who were voted Zanu-PF Buhera West and Buhera Central MPs in the July 31 elections were on Saturday elected the party's deputy provincial spokesperson and secretary for security, respectively.

Mandipaka will deputise Deputy Information minister and Nyanga South MP Supa Mandiwanzira, who was given the mandate to run the province's information department.

Zanu-PF provincial chairperson John Mvundura said most of the candidates won unopposed and described the voting process as peaceful.

"Everything went on well. We have prepared well for the process and people had agreed on how to work together. People had agreed on the posts, therefore, it did not take us time," said Mvundura, whose election is being challenged by Monica Mutsvangwa. Mutsvangwa claims that the election which saw Mvundura emerging the winner was fraught with irregularities.

Suspended ZBC finance manager Retired Brigadier Elliot Kasu was elected vice-chairman while Kenneth Saruchera retained his post as secretary for administration.

Deputy Finance minister Samuel Undenge landed the finance portfolio while Retired Major James Kaunye was elected secretary for the commissariat.

Loveness Mutezo is the new vice-chair for the women's league, deputising Joyline Chipo Porusingazi. In the youth league, Kelvin Manyengavana will be deputised by Mubuso Chingono.

Zanu-PF's provincial elections in Manicaland, Midlands and Mashonaland Central provinces have been dogged by controversy with the losers claiming massive rigging.

The party is set to hold elections for the remaining seven provinces this weekend.