via Midlands elects Central Committee team | The Herald 18 November 2014 by Munyaradzi Musiiwa
Zanu-PF Midlands province has elected 17 members for Central Committee positions, who will join five other representatives from the Women’s League elected last week.The elections, held over the weekend and presided over by Politburo member Cde Obert Mpofu, were held under a peaceful environment.
The elected members are Cdes Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mackenzie Ncube and Douglas Tapfuma from Kwekwe were uncontested, Cdes Melody Dziva, Wellington Magura and Rain Mathulisa from Gweru, Dr Joram Gumbo, Cdes July Moyo, Ben Mataga and Godwill Shiri from Mberengwa, Cde Lawrence Mavhima and Dr Gregory Mataka from Zvishavane, Cdes Saviors Piki and Max Zvidzai from Chirumhanzu, Cdes Victor Matemadanda, Tambai Masuka and Docas Maposhere from Gokwe South. Dr Mpofu said the elections were free and fair.
“The election went on well and they were smooth sailing in all the districts,” he said.
Elections in Gokwe North and Shurugwi were postponed to today (Tuesday) after some of the participants were implicated in vote buying.
The provincial executive council resolved that the elections be shelved while the party deliberate on vote buying allegations being levelled against some of the contestants.
In Shurugwi, Cdes Francis Nhema and Simbarashe Mumbengegwi were accused of vote buying after they allegedly bused district chairs of the main wing, youth and women’s leagues to Harare where they were said to have given them money and other freebies to buy their votes ahead of the Central Committee elections.
In Gokwe, Cde Flora Buka is facing similar allegations in addition to fanning factionalism.
Those accused of having received the bribes will be summoned before the party’s disciplinary committee on Friday.
Provincial secretary for information and publicity Cde Cornelius Mpereri said the disciplinary committee will announce those eligible to vote.
“They cannot be disqualified at the moment because their fate is not yet known,” he said. “Therefore, we saw it fit to postpone the elections in the affected districts to next week.”
Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Cde Chiratidzo Mabuwa and Mberengwa North Member of Parliament Cde Tafanana Zhou have been summoned by the disciplinary committee for a hearing on allegations of disrupting inter-district party meetings and voting buying.
It is alleged that Cde Zhou received money from an undisclosed source which he gave to some youths to influence the outcome of the youth national executive elections, while Cde Mabuwa is alleged to have organised youths to disrupt an inter-district party meeting in Mberengwa and incited violence.
The youths allegedly threatened to assault provincial commissar Cde Makhosini Hlongwani and Cde Kudakwashe Zhou. The latter said he was yet to be summoned for hearing.
“I have heard of the allegations but I am not aware that I will appear before the disciplinary committee. I am still to receive formal communication,” he said.
Deputy Minister Mabuwa professed ignorance on the allegations.
“That is news to me my friend,” she said. “I am hearing it from you. I did not disrupt any meeting or organise youths to do so. I have not been summoned for hearing, maybe the letter is still to be delivered.”
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