The Sunday Mail
ZANU-PF spokesman Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday confirmed that Cde Terence Mukupe was the ruling party’s official candidate in the June 10 Harare East by-election.
Although our Bulawayo Bureau broke the story yesterday, Ambassador Khaya Moyo had on Friday night stated he would announce the official position of the party.
True to his word, Ambassador Khaya Moyo yesterday told journalists, after meeting Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Harare, that the party had settled for Cde Mukupe.
Ambassador Khaya Moyo said the decision was arrived at after discussions between President Mugabe and VP Mnangagwa.
“(The VP) had of course consulted with His Excellency the President before he left for Mali on the matter. Consultations have been concluded and now we are giving you the final position of the party on the matter,” he said.
Ambassador Khaya Moyo said Cde Mavis stood directed to withdraw from the race.
“Cde Terrence Mukupe is the official party candidate for the Harare East constituency by-election. . . Cde Mavis Gumbo is hereby directed to withdraw from contesting and that all structures are urged to rally behind Cde Mukupe as the official candidate representing Zanu PF in the forthcoming by election.”
Cde Mukupe won the April 11 primary elections with 651 votes to Cde Gumbo’s 365, Cde Stalin Mau Mau’s 141, 31 for Cde Margaret Sithole and 14 for Cde Chris Chuchu.
However, Cde Cde Gumbo successfully filed her papers with the Nomination Court with backing from the Harare party provincial executive led by Cde Godwills Masimirembwa and a letter of support from Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Cde Ignatius Chombo.
Cde Mukupe challenged this at the Appeals Court and a ruling was made for both to stand.
Ambassador Khaya Moyo said the leadership would meet the Harare executive to see how this had developed.
“Due to internal misunderstanding an unfortunate situation developed resulting in two candidates registering and being accepted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. The primary elections are regulated and conducted according to the rules and regulation which make it clear that a candidate who qualifies as the winner moves on to represent the party.
“We shall of course be meeting as a party the Harare province leadership to understand how this position was arrived at. As a result of these consultations the party directs as follows that the rest we shall handle internally as a party so that we are all in the same boat and avoid some misleading statements which have been appearing in the press.”
Cde Mukupe held a well-attended rally in Msasa yesterday, promising to help address challenges such as inadequate water supply.
Other party officials who attended the rally condemned Cde Masimirembwa for imposing Cde Gumbo.
Cde Gumbo was not available for comment yesterday.
Meanwhile, War Veterans Minister Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa told The Sunday Mail that contrary to media reports yesterday, Cde Gumbo had not fought in the liberation struggle.
