Mujuru's group to field candidates against Mugabe's Zanu-PF in by-elections

A top aide of former vice president Joice Mujuru has revealed that their group will field candidates against President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF in the June 10 parliamentary by-elections, News24 reported.

Zimbabwe will go for 15 parliamentary by-elections that have been dubbed "mini-general elections" following the expulsion of 21 members of parliament (MPs) of the opposition MDC-T who crossed the floor from MDC-T and formed their own MDC Renewal team.

The MDC-T which is led by former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai has indicated that it will not participate in these by-elections, protesting over unlevel playing field which it says favours the ruling Zanu-PF.

However,  addressing  journalists  in Harare on Wednesday afternoon, expelled Zanu-PF Mashonaland West chairperson, Themba  Mliswa, who is  a close ally of  Mujuru said his group which now goes under  the names "Original Zanu-PF or People First"  will  field  candidates in by-elections.

"We are going field candidates in these by-elections. We are going to have candidates in every constituency. We will give Zanu-PF a  run for their  money," said Mliswa  who was  also  fired from Zanu-PF and parliament for backing Mujuru.

"MDC used to control these constituencies and we are talking to them, so that we get much support and defeat Zanu-PF," Mliswa added.

Mliswa who is also battling to recapture his Hurungwe West parliamentary seat was also arrested over the weekend on allegations of disrupting a Zanu-PF meeting in his former constituency. He was released due to lack of evidence.