No imposition of candidates: President

Source: No imposition of candidates: President – Sunday News March 18, 2018

Tinomuda Chakanyuka, Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared that there will be no imposition of candidates to represent Zanu-PF in the forthcoming harmonised elections.

The President also announced that the party has adopted a new system for primary election campaigns where two or more candidates in one constituency will campaign at the same rally.

President Mnangagwa, who is also Zanu-PF First Secretary and President, said the new system will allow people to choose their preferred candidate as well as foster unity in the party in line with the party’s new trajectory.

The President said this on Friday while addressing a rally at Lortondale Primary School in Bubi District in Matabeleland North Province.

“As we prepare for elections please, people must be free to choose their preferred candidate. No imposition, no imposition, no imposition. “You are free, in each constituency in your districts to elect your preferred representatives in Parliament,” he said.

He also urged people of Zimbabwe to remain peaceful and united saying the country can only develop under the environment of peace.

“We must, however, continue consolidating the spirit of peace and unity for the development of the country,” he said.

President Mnangagwa added, “We agreed at Politburo that during primary elections, where there are two or more candidates in one constituency, they will campaign at the same gathering. Each candidate will be allocated time to address the gathering and the one who manages to articulate what they have to offer the people, will be chosen.”

President Mnangagwa said Zanu-PF had moved on from divisive politics and was now focusing on building the country.

The President paid tribute to supporters who stood by the party during turbulent times, when the G40 cabal, led by former First Lady Grace Mugabe, wreaked havoc.

He said the Zanu-PF should continue consolidating the spirit of unity, warning that those who harbour rebellious motives against the party will fall by the wayside.

“We must continue consolidating, broadening, internalising the spirit of unity in Zanu-PF. As we move along the journey of our revolution, we will have renegades, sellouts along the journey and they will fall by the way side as the G40 has also fallen.

“The core of Zanu-PF will continue, the core of Zanu-PF will continue, true revolutionaries like yourselves will continue,” he said.

President Mnangagwa added, “Today I’ve come here to see people like you, people who remain in the party, even when the party had been hijacked, people insulting each other, you remained united and rejected those that insult others.

“I’ve come to see you because you are true revolutionaries, you are true Zanu-PF. I’m glad I came to see you,” he said.

Emphasising on the importance of unity in the country, President Mnangagwa said his Government will not bow to efforts by some elements to divide the country along regional lines.

He said the Zanu-PF Government will work to continue keeping Zimbabwe as a unitary state.

“Each land has its own people, but when all those people under their respective chiefs come together, we then form what is called Zimbabwe, a unitary state, a united Republic of Zimbabwe, one state. It’s not a federation, it’s not a group of persons, no. We are one, we are all Zimbabweans. We shall continue to maintain Zimbabwe as a unitary state,” he said.

President Mnangagwa also urged Zanu-PF supporters to vote for the party to preserve the country’s gains of the liberation struggle. He expressed confidence that the party would resoundingly win the forthcoming election in a free and transparent manner. -@irielyan