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From George Maponga in Masvingo
Zanu-PF is gearing for watershed primary elections here with more than 500 voting centres expected to be operational throughout Masvingo on Sunday.

Over 1 000 ruling party candidates will square off in the ruling party plebiscite to choose Council and National Assembly candidates in the province ahead of harmonised elections slated for July.

The aspiring candidates hit the campaign trail on Monday and Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chair Cde Ezra Chadzamira said campaigning is progressing smoothly and peacefully across the province. “We will open more than 500 polling centres across the province where voting will take place and efforts will be made to make sure that we reduce the distance voters will have to walk to cast their ballots,” he said.

“So far everything has been going on smoothly and we are happy with the peace, tranquillity, brotherhood that is prevailing during the campaigns.

“All aspiring candidates are campaigning in teams and we are very happy as this deepens the roots of brother and sisterhood amongst contestants who are all members of the same family Zanu-PF.”

He said the province is still to get direction from the National Commissariat Department on logistical arrangements for the weekend polls adding that voting is expected to kick-off at 8am and end in the afternoon.

Cde Chadzamira said Masvingo and Gutu are going to have the highest concentration of polling stations owing to the high number of party branches in those districts.

He said some of the constituencies where polls are expected to be close to call are Masvingo South where eight candidates Cdes Gladys Chari, Claudious Muntondo, Wilson Maride, Lesiman Humble, Victor Vengai, Mutetepi Maushe, Philip Toperesu and Pias Ndala will battle it out. The seat is currently vacant following the expulsion of former Zanu-PF legislator and Cabinet Minister Engineer Walter Mzembi over his alleged links to the G40 cabal.