#ElectionsZW: By-elections a litmus test for Zanu PF following chaotic intra-party elections
Zanu PF faces a herculean task in the upcoming March by-elections after the recent chaotic intra-party provincial wars fuelled factional divisions within the ruling party.
In an interesting turn of events, the ruling party’s politburo last week endorsed the provincial elections prior to Zanu PF political commissar Mike Bimha controversially announcing that the party’s provincial polls would only be validated by the politburo.
Critics accused the ruling party of undermining democratic processes by allowing the politburo to determine the final outcome of who should or not win in the elections despite having members vote for their own leaders.
March by-elections will be a litmus test for the ruling party and critics warn could prove fatal for Zanu PF with some disgruntled party members not happy with the outcome of intra-party elections threatening a repeat of the 2008 ‘Bhora Musango’ where they voted for the then MDC led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai.
Zanu PF secretary of administration Obert Mpofu dismissed speculations that the ruling party was headed for by-elections divided.
“There is no truth in entirely arguing that Zanu PF is headed towards by-elections as a divided party. We are mobilising all our structures for an uncontested win of the elections.
“The party should win and not selfish interests. We are past the provincial election mode. The just ended internal election process served as a litmus test for our voter mobilisation capacity.
“The election also reinforced our confidence in knowing that our structures are alive from the cell going upwards. The election turnout was huge, the hype was incomparable. This proves that we are still a strong mass party,” said Mpofu.
Mpofu added that while there may be a “few grievances” that did not suggest severe divisions within the party.
“We may have some of our members expressing interpersonal contradictions, but that doesn’t entail acute conflict within the Party.
“It is normal that after any election contradictions between contesting candidates emerge, you find that across all political parties in the world.
“That is not unique to Zanu PF. As indicated by President Cde E. D Mnangagwa there are no winners and losers in internal Zanu PF processes however, it is scientifically abominable to equate these euphoric whispers to tension climaxes in Zanu PF,” concluded Mpofu.
#ElectionsZW: By-elections a litmus test for Zanu PF following chaotic intra-party elections
