Zimbabwe football legend Peter Ndlovu has snubbed Zanu PF’s overtures to have him contest in the forthcoming elections on the party’s ticket, insisting he had only joked about it with an official from the party.
By Nduduzo Tshuma
Zanu PF politburo member Tshinga Dube on Tuesday told NewsDay that he had personally spoken to Ndlovu and the soccer legend had agreed to represent the party in Makokoba constituency.
But a nonplussed Ndlovu said this matter had gone too far, although he insisted he was not at liberty to comment. “My brother, that thing has gone too far. I am not at liberty to comment because a lot of things have been said about me without my comments,” he said.
“I think it’s best you talk to my elder brother Marko (Dube).”
Marko confirmed that his younger brother had spoken casually with Dube about him contesting and he jokingly said he would think about it.
“That’s not true. He didn’t say he would contest,” he said. “When you sit and chat over a meal and someone casually invites you to contest for their party and you laugh over it, is that agreeing?”
Marko said his brother had met Dube at President Robert Mugabe’s belated birthday celebrations, but had not agreed to contest elections.
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“It was a casual thing at a function in Nkulumane,” he explained. “He said Peter should contest and my brother just laughed and said he would think about it. He didn’t agree.”
Dube had told NewsDay that Zanu PF would decide whether or not to field the former footballer.
According to Zanu PF insiders, Dube — who lost the Makokoba constituency to MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khuphe in 2008 — had shifted focus to the Bulawayo East constituency.
It is understood Zanu PF has devised a strategy to lure celebrities to stand for Mugabe’s party as it seeks to reverse the gains of the MDC in Bulawayo.
Some foreign currency dealers have reportedly indicated interest to represent Zanu PF in Bulawayo. [email protected]
