Angry Zanu PF supporters in Mazowe West constituency reportedly boycotted the party’s re-run of the primary elections for the women’s quota over what they said is the failure by their National Commissar, Engelbert Rugeje to address irregularities raised against the incumbent Kazembe Kazembe.
By Staff Reporter
Zanu PF ordered for a re-run of its primaries in 15 constituencies after an outcry of massive rigging.
Similar and serious such irregularities were reported in Mazowe West where the sitting Member of Parliament, Kazembe Kazembe was accused of perpetrating violence against his strongest contestant, Tafadzwa Musarara’s supporters.
The party supporters who spoke to 263Chat said they were surprised to hear the party saying that a re-run of the elections was going to be done on the women’s quota which “had not” raised any compliant.
The re-run, conducted in the constituency on Monday saw a handful of people casting their ballots with the rest boycotting the process.
“ There is nothing to vote for because our issues where on the MP’s contestations, that is where irregularities were recorded and we thought that the party was going to conduct a re-run for that election,” said one old man at Ceaser mine where only 62 people voted.
“We are going to play the bhora musango if they do not reverse this decision .Why can not they give us the chance to elect candidates we want?”, said another Zanu PF supporter at Concession who said did not vote.
“We are want to see the President and tell him that we are going to spoil the ballot come national election day because of this kind of dictatorship which we thought had died when Robert Mugabe was kicked out,” another voter said.
Contacted for comment, Rugeje promised to call for a press conference to announce the results of all the 15 constituencies where re-runs were conducted.
Musarara’s supporters last week thronged Zanu PF headquarters, demanding to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the Mashonaland Central chairman’s violation of the primary election processes.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that Mnangagwa pleaded with the protesters, promising them another chance to vote. This followed allegations that Kazembe pulled out of the party voters roll, names of rival supporters.
