Zimpapers Logo

Senior Reporter
ZANU-PF’S highest decision-making body outside Congress, the Politburo, meets at a special extra-ordinary session in Harare today which is expected to come up with a final position on divisive provincial elections that produced contested outcomes in Manicaland, the Midlands and Mashonaland Central provinces.
President Mugabe is on record saying the Politburo was still to receive the results of provincial elections in Mashonaland Central along with a report from the presiding officers who were led by secretary for environment and tourism Cde Francis Nhema. This development effectively set aside results announced by national spokesman, Cde Rugare Gumbo, who said Cde Luke Mushore had prevailed over Cde Dickson Mafios even though six out of 18 districts failed to vote.

The party leadership has also been discussing elections in Manicaland and the Midlands provinces that produced contested outcomes amid allegations of serious irregularities and rigging.

The chaos prompted Zanu-PF to cancel elections that were scheduled for today in the remaining seven provinces amid calls for a postponement of the polls till after the 14th Annual National Peoples Conference that many say should come up with watertight guidelines to enable party cadres to elect leaders of their choice.

President Mugabe arrived in Harare last night ahead of today’s crucial indaba.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo refused to comment on issues up for discussion today, referring all questions to secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa.

“I can’t comment on that, maybe get in touch with Cde (Didymus) Mutasa,” he said.
Cde Mutasa, the party’s secretary for administration also refused to comment on the matter.

Elections in the three provinces were beset by a number of irregularities among them shambolic party’s registers, delays or failure to deploy voting materials, composition of supervisory teams, and communication of results.

In the Midlands, 15 party districts in Shurugwi North failed to vote amid reports that in some areas people voted at night but Cde Jason Machaya was declared the winner over Cde Larry Mavhima regardless.

The Midlands result has, however, since been challenged on the grounds that several districts did not vote and a final decision is still pending.

In Mashonaland Central, Cde Luke Mushore was declared winner over Cde Dickson Mafiosi although six districts were still to vote.
While the Zanu-PF constitution does not provide for the staggering of elections, voting was at times stretched to between two to three days though it is supposed to be done simultaneously within set time frames and on the basis of verified membership registers
Today’s meeting is likely to decide whether to accept results from Midlands and Manicaland or rule that the elections be held afresh along with the remaining seven provinces.