Nhema, Mumbengegwi in vote-buying scandal

ZANU-PF Midlands Province has granted a prohibition order against 50 members of the party who were allegedly bussed to Harare by politburo members, Francis Nhema and Simbarashe Mumbengegwi before receiving bribes to vote for the two ahead of the forthcoming central committee elections.

A prohibition order was issued awaiting disciplinary hearing in terms of Article 10 Section 74 (1) of the party's constitution.

According to Zanu-PF constitution, any member against whom the prohibition order is issued shall be barred from participating in any intra-party elections and activities until proven innocent.

This means the prohibited members will not be eligible to vote in the impending central committee elections.

The prohibited members include 17 district chairpersons, 17 women's league district chairpersons, 10 youth district chairpersons and five provincial members who are Edmund Mukaratikwa, Danisa Mujova, Shella Midzi, Simbarashe Zhuwaki and Theobolt Takanai.

It is alleged that Nhema and Mumbengegwi bussed the party members to Harare where they clandestinely convened an unsanctioned inter-district meeting at Lake Chivero in Harare.

While at Lake Chivero they allegedly gave each of the members 15kg of seed maize, five bags of cement, $40, clothes and promised to build them houses.

The two politburo members who are perceived to be aligned to Vice President Joice Mujuru, asked the members to vote for them to represent the province in the central committee in the elections to be held on Saturday.

Zanu-PF Midlands provincial spokesperson, Cornelius Mpereri said a report was made to the party to the effect that there were some members who were bussed to Harare for an unsanctioned meeting.

He said a disciplinary committee was set up and tasked to investigate the matter before taking any action against the implicated members.

Mpereri said it was resolved on Monday that the implicated members would not be eligible to vote in the weekend elections.

"There've been serious allegations of vote buying being levelled against Nhema and Mumbengegwi. The two bussed some members to Harare where they had an unsanctioned inter-district meeting.

"It's alleged that Nhema and Mumbengegwi bought the members suits, gave them money, seed maize and other things so that they would vote for them in the elections to select central committee members.

"As the province we've resolved that those people who went to Harare for that illegal meeting shall not be eligible to vote in the elections on Saturday. They were given a prohibition order," he said.

Contacted for comment Nhema said he heard of the allegations levelled against him.

He, however, insisted that he did not buy the members anything.

"I've heard of the issue and the disciplinary committee is handling it. Vanhu vacho vese vanonzi vanosvika 200 vakauya ku Harare (The people who are said to have come to the meeting are about 200).

"The province agreed to investigate the matter to ascertain the claims. However, I'm not privy to the outcome of the investigations. I also haven't heard of the prohibition order issued against the accused members.

"Ndinenge ndiine mari yakawanda sei yekutengera vanhu vese ava zvinhu zvese izvi (I can't afford to buy all these people what I'm alleged to have bought for them)," he said.

Mumbengegwi could not be reached for comment.