The Sunday Mail
Noah Pito in HURUNGWE WEST
VICE-President Phelekezela Mphoko has urged the Hurungwe West electorate to vote for Zanu-PF in the June 10 by-election as part of recognising the crucial role the party has played in liberating the country.
VP Mphoko, who once operated in Hurungwe during the Second Chimurenga, told thousands of party supporters at Nyamhunga High School grounds on Friday to cast their ballots for Cde Keith Guza.
Cde Guza will battle it out with deposed legislator Mr Temba Mliswa, who was kicked out of Zanu-PF for fanning factionalism and is standing as an independent candidate. Mr Mliswa is linked to a cabal that sought to unseat President Mugabe by means fair and foul until their exposure late last year.
The VP said: “Remember when you vote for our son you are voting for Zanu-PF and President Mugabe who is also the First Secretary and President of the party; we thus expect you to act in the manner that does not embarrass the Zanu-PF leadership.”
The VP said the people should feel free to air any grievances.
“If there are any problems please don’t hesitate to bring them to our ministers for they are all Zanu-PF and not MDC or Gamatox. This is an instruction from us, we are after the success of Zim-Asset,” he said.
Zanu-PF National Commissar Cde Savior Kasukuwere criticised Mr Mliswa for failing to steer development during his tenure as Hurungwe West MP.
“Vote for astute people and not crooks like Temba. Mliswa stole funds that he received from Government which were meant for developing Hurungwe West. He diverted the funds to his farm and concubines,” he charged.
Cde Kasukuwere called for peace ahead of the election.
Cde Guza had told VP Mphoko about how people in the area were failing to communicate due to lack of network coverage, and it was agreed to raise this matter with ICT Minister Supa Mandiwanzira.
Senior party members Cdes Prisca Mupfumira and Douglas Mombeshora donated 60 tonnes of maize and rice to be equitably shared among the six wards in the constituency as well as 100 blankets for the less-privileged.
