Zanu-PF readies for by-elections

Zanu-PF is planning to deploy its bigwigs to campaign for candidates for the December 9 by-elections as the ruling party goes for broke in search of a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Speaking at a Press conference at the party headquarters in Harare on Wednesday, Zanu-PF political commissar Mike Bimha said the ruling party was taking the by-elections seriously.

"We will soon deploy our teams to campaign in areas where there are by-elections and we want to win. We never take the opportunity to reconnect with our people lightly, that is why we are going to deploy our senior members there," Bimha said.

Bimha also revealed that the party was already preparing for 2028.

"We win because we plan, we mobilise and execute. We are already planning for 2028 and when our opponents see us romping to victory, they cry foul because they do not know how hard we work for the victory," he said.

The by-elections were occasioned by the recall of 14 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators by self-appointed interim party secretary-general Segenzo Tshabangu.

On Tuesday this week, 18 more CCC legislators including interim deputy spokesperson Gift Siziba and Amos Chibaya were recalled, before the High Court blocked further recalls.

The CCC has dismissed Tshabangu as an "imposter and fraudster" as well as a Zanu-PF proxy. Zanu-PF has, however, disowned Tshabangu.

Zanu-PF is reportedly seeking a two-thirds majority in Parliament to allow it to easily amend the Constitution. On Wednesday, CCC leader Nelson Chamisa pleaded with the Zanu-PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa to stop the by-elections.