The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporters
THOUSANDS of aspiring candidates who wish to represent ZANU PF in this year’s general elections submitted their curriculum vitaes at the party’s provincial offices countrywide ahead of primary elections slated for this Saturday.
The primary elections will cover the Senate, the National Assembly, the local authority, the women’s quota and the youth quota, mimicking the main polls.
ZANU PF’s Provincial Elections Directorates (PEDs) will meet today to receive and consider the CVs.
Tomorrow, provinces will submit the considered CVs at the ruling party’s headquarters with their comments and recommendations. Deadline for their submission to the Commissariat Department is end of day tomorrow.
ZANU PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, who was tasked to lead the PED in his home province of Mashonaland West, said there was discipline and enthusiasm among candidates.
“It’s clear that the influence of the President and his message for the party to maintain discipline, peace and democracy in party politics has taken root,” he said.
A huge number of aspiring candidates thronged the ZANU PF provincial party offices in Chinhoyi yesterday to submit their CVs.
The party’s provincial chairperson, Cde Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, said: “As Mashonaland West province we have seen the overwhelming number of people who came to submit their CVs, and this means every person who is here will be served and every CV will be received and receipted,” she said.
Speaking at the party’s provincial offices in Harare yesterday, ZANU PF Secretary
for War Veterans Affairs, Cde Douglas Mahiya, who was appointed a member of the National Elections Directorate, said an overwhelming number of CVs had been received, showing the internal democracy existent in the ruling party.
“ZANU PF is a democratic party and the democratic system continues to improve from time to time. Party members are demonstrating and giving value to the call by President Mnangagwa that we need to have a peaceful 2023 general election and it should start of course with our internal process.”
ZANU PF Harare Youth League chair Cde Emmanuel Mahachi said indications are that there are large numbers of youthful people keen to participate in the polls.
“As the leadership we are encouraged by the huge turnout of aspiring candidates more so the youth who want to be councillors and Members of Parliament. That has shown us that ZANU PF is a democratic party because President Mnangagwa said everyone who wishes and qualifies to represent the party should submit their CVs and no one should be turned away, that is exactly what is happening here,” he said.
On Friday, the ruling party’s National Political Commissar Dr Mike Bimha issued rules and regulations for the primaries.
The party’s Treasurer General Cde Patrick Chinamasa, Secretary for Security Cde Lovemore Matuke, Secretary for Transport and Social Welfare Cde July Moyo, Secretary for Legal Affairs Cde Paul Mangwana, Secretary for Women’s Affairs Cde Mabel Chinomona, Secretary for Youth Affairs Cde Tino Machakaire and Secretary for War Veterans Cde Douglas Mahiya make up the National Elections Directorate which will be chaired by Dr Bimha.
