News / Local
Factionalism rocks Zanu-PF Gwanda district
09 Jun 2021 at 02:18hrs | Views
THE disputed Zanu-PF district coordinating committee (DCC) election held in Gwanda last year have divided the party ahead of the 2023 elections.
In December last year, Gwanda South legislator Abednico Ncube called for a re-run of the disputed DCC polls after several ruling party members failed to vote in the internal polls due to logistical challenges.
Ncube, who is also a Zanu-PF politburo member, argued that the outcome of the DCC elections were not a true reflection of the wishes of party members in Gwanda.
Six months after the election, Southern Eye is reliably informed that factionalism is rearing its ugly head and has disabled mobilisation of voters ahead of the 2023 elections.
Zanu-PF won all the 13 legislative seats in the province during the 2018 elections.
"Feuding factions have been pulling in different directions since the DCC polls. At the same time, there is spirited effort by some people in the DCC to undermine those that won in the December DCC polls; undermining even legislators in their constituencies," a party insider told Southern Eye.
However, Omphile Marupi, the Gwanda Zanu-PF DCC spokesperson brushed aside the factionalism claims.
"The claims are not a true reflection of the whole Zanu-PF Gwanda district. Those making factionalism claims are out to achieve something. They are misinformed," Marupi said.
In the 2018 Zanu-PF primary election, Marupi defeated Ncube.
However, his victory was reversed in favour of Ncube, who went on to represent Zanu-PF in Gwanda South.
Chaos then rocked Zanu-PF's DCC elections countrywide as contestants accused each other of rigging. The DCCs were disbanded in 2012 but were resuscitated last year as a means to consolidate structures and boost the party's support base.
In December last year, Gwanda South legislator Abednico Ncube called for a re-run of the disputed DCC polls after several ruling party members failed to vote in the internal polls due to logistical challenges.
Ncube, who is also a Zanu-PF politburo member, argued that the outcome of the DCC elections were not a true reflection of the wishes of party members in Gwanda.
Six months after the election, Southern Eye is reliably informed that factionalism is rearing its ugly head and has disabled mobilisation of voters ahead of the 2023 elections.
Zanu-PF won all the 13 legislative seats in the province during the 2018 elections.
"Feuding factions have been pulling in different directions since the DCC polls. At the same time, there is spirited effort by some people in the DCC to undermine those that won in the December DCC polls; undermining even legislators in their constituencies," a party insider told Southern Eye.
However, Omphile Marupi, the Gwanda Zanu-PF DCC spokesperson brushed aside the factionalism claims.
"The claims are not a true reflection of the whole Zanu-PF Gwanda district. Those making factionalism claims are out to achieve something. They are misinformed," Marupi said.
In the 2018 Zanu-PF primary election, Marupi defeated Ncube.
However, his victory was reversed in favour of Ncube, who went on to represent Zanu-PF in Gwanda South.
Chaos then rocked Zanu-PF's DCC elections countrywide as contestants accused each other of rigging. The DCCs were disbanded in 2012 but were resuscitated last year as a means to consolidate structures and boost the party's support base.
Source - newsday
