Jonathan Moyo tells Zanu-PF to bury hatchet

ZANU-PF Politburo member Professor Jonathan Moyo yesterday urged the party's Bulawayo provincial leadership to have unity of purpose if they hope to regain seats from the MDC-T in the June 10 by-elections.

Prof Moyo, who is also the party's secretary for science and technology, was addressing provincial leaders and candidates seeking to fill the five vacant Bulawayo parliamentary seats during a meeting chaired by the party's national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.

Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube will represent the party in Makokoba constituency, while Godfrey Malaba and Joseph Tshuma will contest in the Pumula and Mpopoma-Pelandaba constituencies.

In Luveve constituency, the party will be represented by Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo while Maideyi Mpala will battle it out with other candidates in Lobengula constituency.

The seats fell vacant after 21 MDC Renewal members were recalled from parliament for defecting from the MDC-T.

Some of the candidates representing Zanu-PF expressed concern yesterday that there were divisions in the province, with the youths not participating, a development that threatened their campaigns.

However, Prof Moyo, who is also the party's Tsholotsho North candidate in the by-elections, said it was important for the party to resolve outstanding issues before the elections.

"Sometimes we forget and overlook the obvious but we can only correct something we understand is wrong. It's common cause that things are not well in the province. Its the duty of the leadership to fix things before we go for the by-elections," said Prof Moyo.    

"The leadership must work with the youth. There's no party that wins elections without working with the youth. The moment you alienate yourself from the youth then there's a problem in the party?"

He told the candidates, who had earlier on predicted resounding victory, not to expect positive results if they know that they haven't worked hard enough.

In Tsholotsho, we told ourselves that we would win the elections 150 percent in the 2013 elections but we didn't know that some party members were working with the opposition and we ended up with negative results. Its not useful to believe your own propaganda. You should operate on the basis that you will win if you work harder" said Prof Moyo.

He also urged the provincial leadership to deploy party cadres from other provinces to come and assist in the campaigns for the by-elections.

Kasukuwere urged all provincial members to bury their differences and work together for the good of the party.
He said the forthcoming by-elections were an opportunity for the party to bury the MDC-T.

"We've come here to assess the progress of where we're in terms of preparations for the by-elections and I want to emphasise that we have to win the by-elections.

"I know that there're some of us who were not happy because of some issues but once a decision has been made let's work together for the sake of the party," said the political commissar.

"We've learnt our lessons and we want to deal with them. Let's not look at the candidates as individuals but as Zanu-PF. For the first time I want Zanu-PF to take the silverware home."

He also warned party members against working with opposition parties and independent candidates, saying the party would soon name and shame the culprits.

"We're aware that some members of the party are supporting independent candidates and working with opposition parties, even senior party members. We will not accept this because we can't afford to continue to be a haven of loses," said Kasukuwere.

"I'm appealing for unity in this province. In spite of the differences let's win this game. Let's put our differences aside and support the party."

Kasukuwere said funds and resources were being mobilised to assist the candidates.