YARD leader Temba Mliswa is likely to get a boost from both Zanu PF and the Movement for Democratic Change parties, in his bid to win the forthcoming Norton by- elections.
Those in the Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC rallying behind Mliswa see this as a strategy to put to test the idea of a coalition, “this should be accepted as an idea within the broader opposition space to cement coalition plans ahead of the mother of all election which is only about 18 months away,” writes a senior member in an internal memo seen by ZimEye.
The MDC is not participating in any future elections until there are satisfactory reforms. Mliswa according to MDC sources has the added advantage of knowing how the Zanu PF rigging machinery works having been a senior member of the party for some time, till he was kicked out.
“However, based on what I gathered in the afternoon from leaders within our structures and what the Hon. Mliswa enlightened me on the plans behind the idea of moving into a ZANU PF territory ie Norton, I can safely conclude that the idea is a classic one, that will take ZANU PF out of Norton if the election is properly administered and run with real trust, especially from our team,” writes the member.
Mliswa is also set to benefit from the internal factional wars within Zanu PF after losing candidates in the party primary elections held in Norton at the weekend, have threatened to rally behind his candidature.
“There was massive rigging. That was just child’s play and the person who won is not even known here in Norton. He is not going to win at all and that will expose the party. This will be the first by-election that we are going to lose,” said one of the losing candidates, who declined to be named for fear of victimisation.
The candidates said if the party did not order fresh primary elections, then they would have no choice, but to urge their supporters to back Mliswa.
“That will be a lesson for those who rigged. It’s better to support an independent candidate so that they learn the hard way. I did my ground work hoping that the wishes of the people would be respected, but I was wrong, this is just bad for the party,” another candidate said.
Chindedza polled 847 votes against Joyce Mukazhu, who polled 617 votes, while Bybit Tsomondo came third with 612 votes. Other candidates who participated include Margaret Zvinavashe and Langton Mutendereki, who got 328 and 146, respectively.
The losers accused presiding officer Shadreck Mashayamombe from Harare province of tinkering with the votes to give Chindedza the upper hand.
Zanu PF provincial chairperson Ephraim Chengeta declined to comment on the matter, saying he was in a meeting.
Over the weekend, Mliswa claimed he had received several calls from losing candidates, seeking to join him ahead of the Norton by-election.
“Clearly, this is a constituency that will send a strong message to the ruling party. This election will expose the effects of hurried and uninformed decisions by Zanu PF. Also the war between the war veterans and the party, failure to attend to promises made in their manifesto, especially regarding the economy, will expose Zanu PF,” Mliswa, whose candidature has also been endorsed by disgruntled war veterans, said.