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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Zanu-PF has dispatched some of its high-ranking officials in Matabeleland South Province to campaign for its two local authority candidates in the forthcoming by-elections set for February 23, an official has said.

Ward 15 (Shabwe) under Beitbridge Rural District Council and Ward 25 (Matopo Research Area) under Matobo Rural District Council fell vacant following the deaths of their councillors.

The two wards were all represented by Zanu-PF cadres.

In Beitbridge, Cde Rabson Mbedzi would be fighting to retain the seat previously held by the late Cde Boy Meniere Ndou and Cde Sibonginkosi Dube is seeking to replace the late Cde Clara Ndlovu.

Zanu-PF’s provincial commissar Cde Japhet Dube said they were now primed for another landslide victory.

He said campaign teams which include former Beitbridge West MP Cde Metrine Mudau, Beitbridge Senator Cde Tambudzani Mohadi, Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Rabelani Choeni, war veterans provincial vice chairman Cde Samuel Mulaudzi and Beitbridge Proportional Representation MP Cde Lisa Singo were already on the ground in Beitbridge.

“We started campaigns on the ground and are confident of retaining all the two wards, we have several heavy weights on the ground who are supported by our affiliates, including war veterans, ex-detainees and ex-recrutees,” he said. “The strength of the party on the ground is impressive. In fact, the elections should have been held as soon as yesterday. We have put forward strong candidates.”

Cde Dube said the campaign teams would be heading to Matobo district in the next two days. He said the party was getting stronger on the ground with each day and that they would continue mobilising supporters from cell up to national level.

Cde Dube encouraged party supporters to go out in numbers and vote for the Zanu-PF candidates during the by-elections.

“We urge our supporters to go out and vote in their numbers so that we continue our dominance as a party of choice in the province and countrywide,” he said.

Cde Dube said it was also important for the revolutionary party’s supporters to continue observing peace during the imminent elections.

“To show our seriousness about maintaining our dominance as the revolutionary party we have started building strong structures in all urban settlements in our province,” he said.

“You will note that most of our programmes were concentrated in rural areas, but now we are getting into towns setting strong structures starting from the cell level. Our plan is to take everything on offer and regain control of some towns in 2023.”