via D-Day for Zanu PF factions – Southern Eye by Nduduzo Tshuma/Stephen Chadenga
ZANU PF Bulawayo will proceed with provincial elections for a new executive tomorrow despite moves by some senior party leaders to retain the incumbent Callistus Ndlovu unopposed as chairperson.
The party’s provincial spokesperson Michael Sikhosana yesterday told Southern Eye that preparations for the polls to were on course.
“They are still on,” he said.
“We are preparing for them now. All those who handed in their CVs will contest in the elections. No one has been removed; they will only be removed by the electorate,” he said.
He declined to comment on calls by some central committee and politburo members for Ndlovu to retain the post.
“That is a matter involving seniors, so I cannot comment. Ndlovu is a central committee member and, therefore, my senior. They are handling the matter as seniors,” Sikhosana said.
Efforts to get a comment from Ndlovu were fruitless.
There were reports that senior party leaders had disqualified all contesting candidates for various reasons as they pushed for the re-election of Ndlovu unopposed despite his desire to step aside.
Four candidates will be vying for the provincial chairperson’s post and these include current deputy chairperson Killian Sibanda, Simon Khabo, Joseph Tshuma and Augustine Ndlovu.
Party insiders said senior members wanted to protect their positions in the central committee by having one of their own in the chair position so they do not lose their positions in elections next year.
The leadership was also accused of wanting to cling to positions by continually blocking fresh blood that could help revive the party.
For the Matabeleland North polls, provincial chairperson Richard Moyo will battle it out with his deputy Reeds Dube who lost in the Hwange Central
parliamentary elections on July 31.
Moyo was elected party provincial chairperson in the run-up to the Zanu PF conference in Gweru in 2012.
In the Midlands, Zanu PF Midlands provincial vice-chairperson Larry Mavhima has expressed confidence in defeating long-serving chairperson Jason Machaya.
Mavhima said it was high time Machaya passed on the baton to the younger generation.
Machaya and Mavhima will do battle after it emerged that former Midlands governor July Moyo, who had been widely expected to contest, did not submit his CV by the close of the Wednesday deadline.
Mavhima, who lost in the Zvishavane-Runde primaries to Mines deputy minister Fred Moyo, said the province needed fresh blood and felt he was the right person to carry the vision of the province forward.
“I’m ready for the polls and am confident that I will win to become the next provincial chairperson come Saturday,” said Mavhima.
“The incumbent has been there for a decade now and it’s high time he passes on the baton to the younger generation. I have the vision to carry the Midlands province forward and am ready for that mission. In fact, on Sunday you should phone congratulating me on my victory,” Mavhima said.
Machaya, who is also the Gweru Provincial Affairs minister, was yesterday said to be out of office and in Mberengwa where he was believed to have been campaigning.
Current provincial youth league chairperson Edmore Samambwa will fight for the position with former Zimbabwe Congress of Students’ Union president and Zimbabwe Youth Council board member Tanaka Chinyadza.
Ellina Shirichena, who lost in the Mberengwa South primaries to Industry and Commerce deputy minister Chiratidzo Iris Mabuwa, stands unopposed for the women’s league top post.
The polls are likely to pit a number of factions in Zanu PF against each other.
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