The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporters
Over 2 800 ZANU PF members aspiring to represent the party in the forthcoming harmonised elections battled it out during the party’s primary elections held in eight provinces yesterday.
The polls were a high-stakes affair, which saw thousands of ZANU PF members thronging polling stations dotted around the country to select candidates who will represent the party in the National Assembly, Senate and local authority elections later this year.
They were also choosing those who will stand for the youth and women’s quota seats in Parliament.
It was a show of the party’s internal democracy in motion.
A polling officer reads names from a cell register while party members listen attentively as they wait for their turn to cast votes at Chizungu Primary School polling station in Epworth South constituency during ZANU PF primary elections yesterday
Party members of all ages, colour and creed went to the polls, creating a palpable mosaic of youth, energy and zeal as they exercised their right to choose those who will represent their party in the harmonised elections.
The party has about 4,5 million members in its register, who were all eligible to vote in the primary elections.
In Entumbane, Bulawayo, 84-year-old gogo Selina Dube was among the voters, while, in contrast, 26-year-old Brian Mashonga also cast his ballot in Glen View South constituency.
Excitement was palpable at most polling centres, with many who spoke to The Sunday Mail expressing optimism about their favoured candidates’ chances in the polls.
Voting was, however, delayed at most polling centres due to logistical challenges.
The problem was soon addressed as polling began around mid-morning.
All provinces, except Masvingo and Midlands, held their elections yesterday, with polls in the two regions set to be conducted today.
A total of 2 858 candidates contested yesterday’s elections after sailing through a rigorous vetting process.
As early as 7am, voters began trickling in at polling stations, with orderly queues forming at most stations countrywide.
In Harare province, Mbare constituency was hotly contested, with provincial youth chairperson Cde Emmanuel Mahachi battling it out with Cde Martin Matinyanya.
Harare South had 13 candidates, with new entrant businesswoman Rudo Boka Mutambanengwe being the only female.
In Bulawayo, another new entrant, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, sailed through uncontested in Cowdray Park.
In Chegutu, ZANU PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa was eyeing the senatorial seat, while former Public Service Minister and Central Committee member Cde Prisca Mupfumira battled it out with Economic Empowerment Group (EEG) president Cde Mike Chimombe for the Makonde senatorial seat.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail, Cde Paul Mangwana — who is the party’s Secretary for Mines and Energy, and Mashonaland East province team leader — said the polls were a display of mature internal democracy in the ruling party.
“I have been to three polling stations in Marondera and people came out in their numbers,” he said.
“What I have noticed is that ZANU PF is exercising real democracy through rigorous vetting processes, whereby one’s name is searched for in the cell registers to ensure they are ZANU PF supporters,” he said.
“In this incident, cell books are our voters’ roll.
“From there, one then proceeds to the voting booth, where voting is done through secret ballot.
“This shows that ZANU PF politics has matured significantly.
“The voting process has been peaceful and orderly.”
In Bulawayo, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Cde Raj Modi, who was uncontested for the Bulawayo South seat, said the exercise had gone well.
“The process went on smoothly, despite starting a bit late,” he said.
“It is very good and organised.
“The response was very good and because we started late, we are expecting them to extend the time up to 6pm,” he said.
Matabeleland North Minister of State for Devolution and Provincial Affairs Richard Moyo, who was contesting the Umguza seat, said the elections were orderly and peaceful.
Due to the high turnout, queues could still be seen at a number of polling stations across the country, even after 4pm, the official closing time.
By 5pm, there were still winding queues at polling stations such as the Nenyere party offices in Mbare, Nhakiwa in Uzumba and Malala in Beitbridge West.
Results of the elections will be announced in due course.
