Zanu-PF election guidelines out

via Zanu-PF election guidelines out | The Herald 12 July 2014

ZANU-PF members who have not served in party structures for more than 15 consecutive years are automatically disqualified from contesting for election into the Central Committee, the party revealed yesterday.

The Central Committee is the party’s principal organ outside Congress.

Before the introduction of the 15-year party membership and loyalty criteria, Central Committee members were just chosen from party leaders sponsored by their respective provinces.

For five of the 15 years, an aspiring candidate should have served as a provincial executive member.

This was said by Zanu-PF secretary for legal affairs, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, while unveiling guidelines that will guide the election of members into the Central Committee, the national Women and Youth League next month.

Elections for the Youth League will be done during the League’s conference set for August 7 to 10, while the Women’s League contestants will square off between August 20 and 23.

Both events, where over 4 000 delegates are expected to attend, will be held at the City Sports Centre in Harare. Cde Mnangagwa said those aspiring to stand for election into the Central Committee must not have been subjected to criminal conviction or insolvency.

“They must not have been found guilty and convicted by the party’s disciplinary proceedings during the past five years,” he said.

“Current members of the Central Committee, Women’s League national executive, National Consultative Assembly and those graduating from the national executive of the Youth League are eligible if they are not affected by the above stated criteria.”

He said members who met the set conditions should apply to stand and would be vetted and cleared by the National Elections Directorate prior to campaigning.

Cde Mnangagwa said those aspiring to stand for election into the Women’s League national executive should also have served in party structures for 15 consecutive years, five of which should be at provincial executive level in the Women’s League.

Candidates should not have been subjected to criminal conviction or insolvency and must not have been found guilty and convicted by the party’s disciplinary proceedings in the past five years.

“Anyone who wishes to contest for a national executive of the Women’s League position from province should relinquish her position at provincial level upon election,” he said.

Current Women’s League, Central Committee and NCA members are eligible to contest if they are not affected by the criteria.

Those graduating from the national executive of the Youth League are eligible to contest for positions in the Women’s League.

For election into the Youth League national executive, Cde Mnangagwa said aspiring candidates should be 35 years and below.

They should have served in the national executive of the Youth League before and not have been convicted by the party’s disciplinary proceedings during the past five years.

“They must have served as a provincial executive member for five years or more and must also not have been subject to criminal conviction or insolvency,” Cde Mnangagwa said.

Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya, who chairs the National Elections Directorate, said the Politburo on Wednesday approved the themes, agendas and programmes for the two events.

The theme for the youth conference is, “ZIM-ASSET: Growing the Economy for Youth Empowerment and Employment” while the women’s conference would be held under the theme: “ZIM-ASSET: Leading Women to Empowerment and Employment.’

“Accreditation shall be done in the provinces for all the delegates except for Politburo members, local guests, foreign guests, staff, the press and services which shall be done here at party headquarters.”