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Victor Maphosa in Mutoko

Zanu-PF will today hold primary elections for Mutoko North Constituency which fell vacant following the elevation of Cde Mabel Chinomona to Senate President.

Three prospective candidates, Cdes Rumbidzayi Nyabote, Chipo Shambare and Penjeni Chiutsi will battle it out today in the primaries after their names were approved at national level.

The winner will contest in the by-election slated for November 24.

In an interview with The Herald on the sidelines of an inter-district meeting held at party offices in Mutoko recently, Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial commissar Cde Herbert Shumbamhini, said the party was ready for primary elections and everything to make the voting process a success is in place.

“We are ready for these primaries, all is set and we are well-equipped,” he said.

“Three candidates have been approved at national level, we introduced their names here in the meeting.”

Cde Shumbamhini assured the voters that the election would be done in a transparent manner.

He urged supporters of contestants to be politically-tolerant during and after the primary elections.

“We also discussed in how these elections will be conducted, I want to assure the Mutoko North community that the voting process will be done freely, fairly and transparently,” Cde Shumbamhini.

“Let me urge candidates and their supporters to be politically- tolerant and peaceful. We are a family and the candidate who will make it today is our own, he or she will need our support as we head for the by-elections next month.

“We may have a different choice of a candidate, but let’s not forget that the one who will win today will be the one to represent us, we need to approach the by-elections as a united force.”

Cde Shumbamhini said the party would soon start preparations for the by elections after the nomination court process is completed.

He said the party will romp to victory come November 24.

“After these primaries, we will vigorously campaign for our candidate, we will win with a wider margin, we even want to surpass the total we got during the harmonised elections,” Cde Shumbamhini said.

“Opposition parties should know that Mutoko North and the entire province is Zanu-PF,” Cde Shumbamhini said.

During the July 30 harmonised elections Cde Chinomona of Zanu-PF won the Mutoko North constituency, with 16 902 votes while her main rival from the MDC Alliance, Boniface Mushore, managed 3 151.

Kativhu Shamu of FreeZimbabwe Congress collected 262 votes.