Politburo passes poll resolution – Sunday Mail

via Politburo passes poll resolution 24 November 2013 by Kuda Bwititi and Tinashe Farawo Sunday Mail

The Zanu-PF Politburo has endorsed the party’s provincial executive elections that were held in the Midlands, Mashonaland Central and Manicaland and resolved to hold elections in the remaining seven provinces simultaneously this Saturday.

It is understood President Mugabe, who returned home after a week-long visit to the Middle East to chair the special meeting at party headquarters yesterday, was calm and composed during the indaba where he called for the free expression of views following the chaos that reigned after polls in the three provinces.

National chairman Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo, it was resolved, will work on the programme for the impending polls while ministers of State responsible for the seven provinces will meet on Wednesday to prepare for the elections.

Addressing journalists after the meeting which lasted over six hours, Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Cde Rugare Gumbo said the decision was taken following frank discussions.

“The Politburo met for the greater part of Saturday and made a number of decisions. The first decision was to reaffirm provincial elections for Manicaland, the Midlands and Mashonaland Central,” he said.

“The second was the endorsement of provincial executives for Mashonaland Central. With respect to the Midlands, there is a caveat. A report was made about the Youth League chairman, Edson Samambwa. People felt that because the young man had participated in the elections even though he was more than 35 years old, he should be given the benefit of doubt.”

Cde Gumbo said the Politburo also discussed the programme of conducting the elections, which will be held this Saturday.

He said the ministers of State responsible for the seven provinces will meet on Wednesday to identify any outstanding issues that need to be addressed before the polls.

The team will also work on poll preparations.

“The next issue we tackled was the programme for conducting of elections in the seven provinces that remain. These elections will be held on 30 November. They will be held simultaneously throughout the country. The programme will be worked out by the national chairman, leading to the election on 30 November,” he said.

“The national chairman is calling upon all chairpersons of the seven provinces and provincial ministers to attend a meeting at party headquarters on Wednesday 27 November.”

Cde Gumbo said yesterday’s meeting generated robust debate regarding the challenges that arose in the three provinces that have already held elections.

“There was a robust debate on the challenges the party is facing, conflicting statements coming out in the Press, mudslinging which was going on and as a revolutionary party, we have been urged by His Excellency to try and reconcile our views to try and make sure that the party succeeds.

“We have a major programme, Zim Asset, which needs to be implemented and fulfil the aspirations of the people who voted for us in July.”

Asked to comment on the divisions and irregularities that were reported during the elections in the three provinces, Cde Gumbo said: “We are going to work hard to ensure that the party is united. I don’t know where people are getting this notion that Zanu-PF is chaotic from.

“It’s a creation of the media. It is you, journalists, who want to project the party in a negative way.

“According to the report, which we got from Cde Nhema, the elections (in Mashonaland Central) went on well, smoothly. So, everything is okay, but let’s not have this inbuilt attempt to tarnish the image of the party,

“The President was so calm and cool as a tried and tested leader and he wanted to make sure that we are all together in terms of our thinking and our approach. There was robust debate about the challenges that the party is facing. We will try and work hard to unite the party.”

The party spokesperson said logistical challenges were evident during the elections.

“The major problem was the lack of transport, but on Saturday, all logistics, ballot papers and boxes will be provided by the party. (Secretary for Administration) Cde Didymus Mutasa has already indicated that everything was in place for those elections on Saturday.

“No candidate will provide resources for the elections. It is being done by the party.”