ZANU PF has warned its members that they would face disciplinary action if found badmouthing colleagues ahead of the party’s primary elections which have been moved from tomorrow to Wednesday.
REPORT BY NDUDUZO TSHUMA
The warning follows reports that Bulawayo province called an emergency provincial co-ordination committee meeting on Friday to deal with cases of mudslinging and bribing of voters.
“I have not heard about the reports,” Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo told Southern Eye, “But the party is clear no one should badmouth another. Those found will be taken to a disciplinary hearing and charged accordingly.”
Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson Callistus Ndlovu, however, said the meeting was mainly to discuss the final list of candidates from the national elections directorate in Harare.
However, reports reaching Southern Eye indicate that the provincial executive had received reports of badmouthing and vote buying by some candidates set to contest in the party’s primary elections tomorrow.
“There have been reported cases of badmouthing in areas like Nketa-Emganwini constituency,” an insider said. “One of the candidates is reportedly telling people not to rally behind poor cadres.”
The named candidate has been accused of vote buying, as he was said to be plying youths with beer, in an effort to win their votes.
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Party insiders said cases of bribery were also recorded in the Nkulumane constituency.
“There have been reports of bribery and bussing of voters in Nkulumane constituency,” the insider revealed. “We understand that some candidates are bringing in people from outside the constituency to vote them in during the primaries.”
Zanu PF deputy provincial chairman Killian Sibanda and Alderman David Ndlovu are among candidates vying to represent the party in the area.
In Nketa-Emganwini, five candidates are vying for the position including businessman Elifasi Mashaba and central committee member Khumbulani Mlilo.
Meanwhile, Zanu PF politburo member Sikhanyiso Ndlovu was reportedly admitted at St Anne’s Private Hospital on Friday morning over a yet-to-be established ailment.
The provincial party chairperson, however, declined to comment on the matter saying: “I am not a member of his family, and I do not know anything about that. Get hold of his family.”
