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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Zanu-PF Matabeleland South has intensified preparations for primary elections, which will be held on Sunday to choose Zanu-PF candidates who will represent the party in this years’ harmonised elections, an official has said. In an interview yesterday the provincial party chairman, Cde Rabelani Choeni said they had held meetings with all the aspiring candidates to set the ground rules for campaigning.

He said everything was going according to plan in all the province’s 13 constituencies.
“We are grateful that almost all the aspiring candidates who handed in their CVs have been allowed to partake in the primary elections, except for a few who were dropped for one reason or the other,” said Cde Choeni.

“However, we have written cover notes for some of them to have their issues resolved at the party’s national headquarters.
“All the aspiring candidates from the council up to the senate level held inter-district meetings today (yesterday) in their respective areas, to map the campaign programme, which will see all the candidates travelling together in line with the primary elections governing rules.

“We have decided that in the interest of time, meetings will be held at inter-ward level where the candidates shall be introducing themselves and what they stand for to the people.

“Our thrust as a party is to work as a unit and rally behind President Mnangagwa and all those who will be elected to represent the party during the harmonised elections.”

He said they were promoting a culture of unity and peace within the party, before, during and after the elections.
He said people should shame enemies of progress by refraining from petty fights and politically motivated violence.
“There are those who would want to see brothers and sisters fighting each other, but let’s shame them and maintain unity and a culture of working together as Zimbabweans.

“People should also note that primary elections are just part of a process to choose people who will represent the party in harmonised elections. There is no need for party members to view this as a battle field,” said Cde Choeni.
He said Matabeleland South as a rainbow province should lead by example and prove to the rest of the world that people can live in unity and work together irrespective of ethnicity and cultural differences.

He said the party supporters should also go out in their numbers and rally behind the only people oriented party during this year’s plebiscite.

“We are a very strong party and we should maintain that by having many of our people rallying behind us in this year’s general elections,” said Cde Choeni.