Mujuru camp sneaks in Parly candidates

Zanu People First an offshoot of the ruling Zanu-PF party has reportedly sponsored candidates to contest in the forthcoming June 10 parliamentary by-elections as independents.

The development could put Zanu-PF to the test for the first time since the expulsion of key party members on trumped-up charges of plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe, as the new outfit's officials warned of a bruising battle at the ballot box.

The faction believed to be fronted by ousted former Vice-President Joice Mujuru is made up of mainly disgruntled current and fired Zanu-PF senior officials.  

Although Mujuru has remained silent over her alleged links to the new political formation, the group's spokesperson and ex-Zanu-PF publicity secretary Rugare Gumbo yesterday confirmed the development.

Gumbo added that at the moment the candidates were not receiving any material support from the party although they had been allowed to work as one entity under the Zanu People First tent. He, however, declined to name the candidates operating under the outfit's banner.