News / National
Zanu-PF officials continue to defy party
17 Nov 2013 at 03:15hrs | Views
ZANU PF election candidates for the July 31 National Assembly polls continue to defy a directive by party secretary for administration and Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa to surrender top-of-the-range Ford Everest vehicles used for campaigning.
In a letter dated October 29 and addressed to all Zanu PF provincial chairpersons, Mutasa instructed party members to surrender the vehicles to their provincial party headquarters with immediate effect.
A survey by Southern Eye on Satuday revealed that only a few candidates had responded to Mutasa's call to surrender the vehicles while some were seen parked outside a local hotel in Bulawayo where legislators were attending a workshop.
Some party insiders attributed the defiance of Mutasa's directive to the provincial elections set for next week.
In Bulawayo, Zanu PF provincial spokesperson Michael Sikhosana said only about five candidates had surrendered the vehicles to the provincial Davies Hall offices.
The province has 12 constituencies ' meaning that seven were still holding on to the vehicles.
"We will receive a report from the secretary of transport tomorrow, so I will be in a better position (to reply). Five or so vehicles have so far been surrendered to the party," Sikhosana said.
Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Richard Moyo said he had not heard about any candidate who had surrendered the vehicles to the party.
"The directive has been communicated to the candidates to surrender the vehicles. I will have to check with the office because I have been busy with the provincial elections. I have not heard about anyone who has surrendered the vehicles," Moyo said.
In Matabeleland South although party provincial deputy spokesperson Jabulani Phetshu declined to comment on the matter, insiders said there was general resistance from candidates to surrender the vehicles.
However, in the Midlands, provincial chairperson Jason Machaya said in as much as he did not know how many candidates had surrendered them the response was good.
"I cannot give a number offhand because that is the job of the secretary for transport, but what I know is that our candidates are responding positively to the calls," Machaya told Southern Eye.
The party splashed state-of-the-art vehicles to oil its campaign machinery for candidates nine days ahead of the do-or-die general elections.
According to the vehicle maker's South African website, the Ford Everest costs between R384 800 and R450 800, meaning Zanu PF could have shelled out more than R100 million in acquiring the vehicles, a figure that translates to more than $10 million.
In a letter dated October 29 and addressed to all Zanu PF provincial chairpersons, Mutasa instructed party members to surrender the vehicles to their provincial party headquarters with immediate effect.
A survey by Southern Eye on Satuday revealed that only a few candidates had responded to Mutasa's call to surrender the vehicles while some were seen parked outside a local hotel in Bulawayo where legislators were attending a workshop.
Some party insiders attributed the defiance of Mutasa's directive to the provincial elections set for next week.
In Bulawayo, Zanu PF provincial spokesperson Michael Sikhosana said only about five candidates had surrendered the vehicles to the provincial Davies Hall offices.
The province has 12 constituencies ' meaning that seven were still holding on to the vehicles.
"We will receive a report from the secretary of transport tomorrow, so I will be in a better position (to reply). Five or so vehicles have so far been surrendered to the party," Sikhosana said.
"The directive has been communicated to the candidates to surrender the vehicles. I will have to check with the office because I have been busy with the provincial elections. I have not heard about anyone who has surrendered the vehicles," Moyo said.
In Matabeleland South although party provincial deputy spokesperson Jabulani Phetshu declined to comment on the matter, insiders said there was general resistance from candidates to surrender the vehicles.
However, in the Midlands, provincial chairperson Jason Machaya said in as much as he did not know how many candidates had surrendered them the response was good.
"I cannot give a number offhand because that is the job of the secretary for transport, but what I know is that our candidates are responding positively to the calls," Machaya told Southern Eye.
The party splashed state-of-the-art vehicles to oil its campaign machinery for candidates nine days ahead of the do-or-die general elections.
According to the vehicle maker's South African website, the Ford Everest costs between R384 800 and R450 800, meaning Zanu PF could have shelled out more than R100 million in acquiring the vehicles, a figure that translates to more than $10 million.
Source - Southern Eye
