Touts and lodgers should not represent Zanu PF in elections - Mphoko

VICE-PRESIDENT Phelekezela Mphoko has reportedly said he does not want Zanu-PF by-election candidates to be  touts and lodgers in the June 10 polls.

In Pumula, Godfrey Malaba is representing Zanu PF, Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo in Luveve, Tshinga Dube in Makokoba and  Maidei Mpala in Lobengula/ Magwegwe.

They successfully filed their nomination paper on Thursday.

Mphoko is said to have boasted that he was centre of power in Bulawayo.

According to the Zimbabwe Independent, Mphoko who was little-known before his appointment in December by President Robert Mugabe, is desperate to stamp his authority on Bulawayo and Zimbabwe's political landscape and pushed for the disqualification of some candidates claiming their lowly status would impair the dignity of the party.

"In trying to impose himself in Bulawayo, he came across as arrogant and insensitive by ordering the disqualification of those potential candidates he deemed of low status and not connected to him," one party official said.

He reportedly made his comments during a party central committee caucus meeting held last week in Bulawayo, attended by the likes of Godfrey Malaba and former Bulawayo mayor Dennis Ndlovu. Ndlovu is currently the provincial interim chair.

Contacted for comment by the publication Mphoko said:
"I have nothing to say about that and you need to talk to the people in Bulawayo. Khuluma labo mina angazi lutho. Into nje e-specific kimi yikuti ngingu Mphoko (talk to them because I know nothing. The only specific thing is that I am Mphoko)," the Vice-President said on Wednesday.