ASPIRING Zanu-PF candidates wishing to contest in the party’s primary elections have submitted their Curriculum Vitaes ahead of the harmonised elections to be held later in the year.
Submissions in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, and South provinces took place yesterday smoothly. The revolutionary party’s Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Cde Archbold Chiponda said the submission started in the morning and went on smoothly.
“We collected CVs today for all candidates who wanted to take part in the primary elections and I must say it went well without any incidents. We are working with guidelines that we were given in ensuring the process goes well and we are sticking to them,” he said.
Following the inclusion of a youth quota by President Mnangagwa last year, a total of 10 seats will be reserved for young people who constitute a majority of the population.
“This time we are happy that our elections are all-inclusive, we have the youth quota, women’s quota, local authority, National Assembly, and the Senate. It is our hope that all the CVs submitted today (yesterday) will be representative of all the different groups we have. Again, this time we are happy that we will fill the slots with candidates that resonate with the electorate. As a province, this is our chance to field strong candidates to represent us,” said Cde Chiponda.
Cde Chiponda also added that the CVs will be sorted out today.
“Tomorrow, (today) the Provincial Electoral Directorate will meet to have a look at the CVs and see which ones will be considered, if one meets the requirements then one will be considered for the position they want to hold. This selection will be as democratic as possible,” he added.
Party provincial chairman for Matabeleland North Cde Richard Moyo said the submission process was done smoothly.
“The process started in the morning and all went well, we had no problems at all. So, we are going to receive the CVs tomorrow (today) and we will take it from there,” he said.
Matabeleland South Province also conducted their submission processes smoothly with some of the candidates that submitted their CVs including Cde Abednico Ncube, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Omphile Marupi and Cde Rumelani David Moyo gunning for the Gwanda-Sitaudze seat.
Umzingwane constituency saw sitting MP Brigadier-General (Rtd) Levy Mayihlome, Cde Dumisani Ndenya Moyo and Cde Ndodana Ndebele submitting their CVs for the constituency.
In Bulilima constituency Zanu-PF provincial chairman for Matabeleland South Cde Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu and Cde Dingumuzi Phuti will square off for the constituency while Cde Spare Sithole, Nation Mhlophe, former Cabinet Minister Andrew Langa and Shadreck Makwasha submitted CVs for the Insiza South constituency while Cde Farai Taruvinga the sitting MP, Joel Adonsi, Central Committee member and businessman Cde Delani Moyo and Dr Qhubani Moyo are up for the Insiza North seat.
In Matobo North the sitting MP and Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Cde Edgar Moyo will once again face Cde Mfakazi Maphosa whom he defeated in the 2018 primary polls.In Bulawayo Finance and Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube submitted his CV for the Cowdray Park constituency, and Cde Raj Modi submitted his for Bulawayo South constituency where he is the sitting MP.
On Friday last week, Zanu-PF National Political Commissar Cde Mike Bimha made a call for the submission of CVs for the primary elections with the Provincial Elections Directorates (PEDs) expected to consider them and also make their recommendations and comments by Monday 13 March 2023.
He also stressed that no aspiring candidate would be disqualified at this stage of submission.
“Provincial Elections Directorates do not have the mandate to disqualify an aspiring candidate as this is the prerogative to the National Elections Directorate (NED). This Circular Number 1 of March 2023 is accompanied by a copy of The Rules and Regulations Governing the Conduct of Primary Elections. The guidelines are being sent to all Provinces in the form of both and soft copies,” added Cde Bimha. – Sunday News
