Source: Zanu PF councillor joins NPF – DailyNews Live
Farayi Machamire 23 May 2018
HARARE – ZANU PF Epworth Ward 1 councillor, Elina Mazhandu, has quit the
ruling party to join the New Patriotic Front (NPF), believed to have
strong links to former president Robert Mugabe.
Mazhandu cited widespread harassment and threats on her life by Zanu PF
members allegedly led by ruling party Epworth youth leader, Kudakwashe
Damson, who is the party’s parliamentary candidate for Epworth in the
forthcoming elections.
Damson has refuted the claims, saying he was actually a victim of
violence.
“My brother citizens in Epworth are angry at the councillors and sitting
Member of Parliament for failing to protect their interests.
“These people are hiding behind my name when it’s clear that the people no
longer want them,” he said.
Mazhandu, however, insisted she had been deemed a Generation 40 (G40)
member after playing a prominent role at the funeral of former Cabinet
minister Amos Midzi in 2015, which saw rival Zanu PF factions clashing
over control of the proceedings.
She said she was also being persecuted for a song coined by her musical
group prior to the November military intervention which glorified deposed
leader Robert Mugabe as “God given” and “the right candidate”.
“On 10 separate occasions, I was locked inside my house in Epworth with
threats that they will burn me inside.
“Everyday I am being intimidated by Damson and his team on accusations
that I am a member of G40.
“But as Zanu PF councillor, I am the same person who helped more than 19
000 people in Epworth, who did not have proof of residence receipts, to
register for the upcoming elections.
“This is not the same Zanu PF I joined when I was less than 15-years. That
is why I have decided to join NPF whose values are one and the same with
my father (Mugabe).
“The only place I have refused to go is MDC, no, I cannot wave goodbye to
my country,” she said.
Mazhandu said development efforts in Epworth were frustrated by Zanu PF
members, adding that several developmental projects such as regularisation
of stands were being scuttled because of infighting in the party.
“We reported the matter to our party superiors and that caused people like
Goodwills Masimirembwa to be kicked out of the party leadership because of
constantly interfering with our activities.
“Sadly they are now back again to haunt us and all our pleas for the
president (Emmerson Mnangagwa) to intervene have fallen on deaf ears,”
Mazhandu said.
Mawarire roasts Moyo »