Zanu-PF calls for truce

WARRING Zanu-PF factions have been urged to bury the hatchet and stop dropping names of party bigwigs during campaigns.

The call was made by party secretary for commissariat Mike Bimha in a statement on Saturday where he ordered leaders of teams tasked with supervising the just-ended chaotic provincial elections to hold meetings in their respective provinces to hand over administration of the provinces to the newly-elected leaders, and to superintend over allocation of other positions in provincial executive committees.

"The commissariat department will furnish team leaders with talking points and guidelines on the allocation of other positions of the provincial executive committees," Bimha said in the statement.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week endorsed the outcome of the provincial elections which were marred by allegations of rigging, vote buying and intimidation of voters.

During the Saturday provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Manicaland province, provincial chairperson Mike Madiro blasted party members for name dropping, saying it was an old-fashioned way of contesting elections.

Zanu-PF secretary for external elections Samuel Mumbengegwi was the guest of honour at the meeting.

"I am worried by the amount of indiscipline that we witnessed in the party and we are going to correct that.  I was also not happy with the issue of name dropping in the party.

"Name dropping is old-fashioned. People must attract votes by working hard for the party, not by name dropping," Madiro said.

Tawanda Mukodza, who was the Manicaland provincial youth chairperson was elevated to deputise Madiro in the province.

Oliver Mandipaka is now the new Manicaland provincial secretary for administration, while Dorothy Mabika is the new political commissar.  Prominent Mutare lawyer Chris Ndlovu is the secretary for legal affairs.  Happiness Nyakuedzwa will lead the provincial women's league department, while Stanley Sakupwanya is the newly-elected youth chairperson.

During the meeting, all losing candidates cut lonely figures.

These included Makoni district co-ordinating committee chairperson Albert Nyakuedzwa who contested for the provincial chairperson's position, Danmore Mambondiyani who contested for the provincial youth position and Chido Sanyatwe who lost in the women's league race.

Mumbengegwi said he was initially hesitant to travel to Mutare as there were sharp divisions in the province.

"I am happy that the province is now organised," he said.

Party structures in Matabeleland South and North completed the allocation of leadership posts during the weekend.

Newly-elected Matabeleland South provincial chairperson Nqobizitha Mangaliso  Ndhlovu yesterday told NewsDay that his province completed the process on Saturday.

"The Matabeleland South vice-chairperson is Albert Nguluvhe, the MP for Beitbridge East, the secretary for administration is Edgar Moyo, who is also the Primary and Secondary Education deputy minister and Matobo MP, and the finance secretary is Osfael Mazibuko, while the provincial commissar is Washington Nkomo," Ndhlovu said.

Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Richard Moyo, who retained the chairmanship, said all posts were fairly distributed.

"Silas Maligo from Hwange was elected vice-chairperson, Douglas Khoza from Bubi retained his position as secretary for administration, Stars Mathe from Nkayi retained the treasurer position, Robson Ncube from Lupane retained political commissariat position," Moyo said.

Other posts went to Land Kabome who is the secretary for security, Patrick Ngwenya from Tsholotsho who is secretary for transport and welfare, Beverly Mthombeni from Umguza was elected provincial spokesperson, while the women's league boss position was won by Dora Msimanga.

Moyo said candidates who contested for youth league chairmanship did not qualify, hence the posts remained vacant.

Newly-elected Bulawayo chairperson Jabulani Sibanda said he could not immediately comment as he was busy.