Zanu-PF by-elections campaign starts

Zanu-PF Secretary-General Dr Obert Mpofu yesterday implored voters to rectify their slip-ups when they voted for CCC during the August harmonised elections by voting the ruling party in the coming by-elections slated for December 9.

The call by Dr Mpofu comes hot on the heels of the resounding victory by the revolutionary party when it retained the Gutu West constituency following the parliamentary by-election held on Saturday.

The ruling party outclassed the faction-torn CCC party, pushing it into third place behind an independent.

CCC interim secretary general, Mr Sengenzo Tshabangu, in protest over how the opposition party affairs are run, instigated the recall of 15 legislators of which nine were constituency holders with others coming in under proportional representation.

He has also recalled 69 councillors across the country.

The nine vacant constituencies are: Beitbridge West, Binga North, Bulawayo South, Cowdray Park, Lobengula-Magwegwe, Lupane East, Mabvuku-Tafara, Mpopoma-Mzilikazi, and Nketa.

CCC members that ceased to be legislators are Morgan Ncube, Prince Dubeko Sibanda, Nicola Jane Watson, Pashor Raphael Sibanda, Ereck Gono, Bright Moyo-Vanya, Febion Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi, Desmond Makaza and Obert Manduna.

In an interview yesterday, Dr Mpofu, who is today set to launch the Zanu-PF Lupane East campaign rally at St Paul's, said CCC cannot be trusted to run the country when it is actually failing to run its own internal affairs.

He said the upcoming by-elections present Zimbabweans with an opportunity to correct the August 23 harmonised elections mistake.

"We are on the ground campaigning and the target is obviously to reclaim all these seats because the opposition has nothing to offer. In fact, it has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that CCC cannot be entrusted to rule this country when they are failing to run their own party," said Dr Mpofu.

"From today, I will be in Lupane to drum up support for the party's Lupane East candidate, Phathisiwe Ncube."

Ncube will face two CCC candidates, Messrs David Nyathi and Bright Moyo Vanya. In Binga North, Zanu-PF will be represented by Chineka Muchimba while the opposition party fielded two candidates, Mr Prince Dubeko Sibanda and Ms Judith Sibanda.

In Bulawayo, Zanu-PF's Nketa constituency candidate Albert Mavunga officially kicks off his campaign today with the youthful politician saying the party will ride on the confusion bedevilling the opposition.

The ruling party held its last strategic meeting yesterday to fine-tune its campaign strategy. The meeting was chaired by Central Committee member, Eulysses Nohwedza.

Mavunga (38) will battle it out against former Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) chairperson, Mr Ambrose Sibindi, one of the two candidates for the beleaguered CCC party with the other being Mr Obert Manduna.

Nketa Constituency is one of five constituencies in the city that will have by-elections, with the other being Cowdray Park where the ruling party will be represented by Arthur Mujeyi.

In Lobengula-Magwegwe, Zanu-PF will be represented by Menziwe Dube while former Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Raj Modi is the ruling party candidate for Bulawayo South.

In Mpopoma-Mzilikazi, Zanu-PF is being represented by Dzingai Kamamba.

"We are here to prepare for the start of our campaign journey. We shall be doing door-to-door campaigns and our message to the electorate will be very clear, and it hinges on development which has not been happening under the opposition," said Nohwedza.

"The work which our candidate has been doing even before he was chosen to stand for the party is there for everyone to see. He drilled three boreholes for the residents among other things."

Mavunga said the administrative fragility of the opposition party presented Zanu-PF with a perfect opportunity to end the dominance of the opposition in Bulawayo once and for all.

He however, said they will not sit on their laurels as a result of confusion in the CCC.

Mavunga said the opposition has blatantly failed to represent the people of Nketa as evidenced by a lack of meaningful development.

"The opposition is in tatters right now and is ever in dispute. This gives us a head start to Parliament, but that will not make us relax. We will work and sell the brand Zanu-PF to the people," he said.

"As Zanu-PF, we walk the talk, the works that the party does, including the President himself, are there for everyone to see."

Mavunga said he understands what the younger generation wants for them to desist from social ills such as drug and substance abuse.