By Staff Reporter| Zanu Pf stalwarts in Mazowe West constituency reportedly boycotted the party’s primary elections re-run for the women’s quota in protest that their complains against election irregularities which saw Kazembe Kazembe romp to victory had not been addressed.
Zanu PF ordered for a re-run of its primaries in 15 constituencies countrywide after an outcry of massive rigging and voting irregularities which saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa describe the primary elections as “shambolic”.
Similar and serious such irregularities were reported in Mazowe West where the siting Member of Parliament, Kazembe Kazembe was accused of perpetrating violence against his strongest contender, Tafadzwa Musarara’s supporters.
Party supporters from Mazowe West constituency who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were surprised to hear the party announcing an election re-run in the women’s quota which “had not” raised any complaints.
In protest, Zanu Pf supporters boycotted the rerun with only a handful of people casting their ballots (Monday).
“There is nothing to vote for because our grievances were on the MP’s because that is where there were gross irregularities and we thought that the party was going to conduct a re-run for the legislator,” said one 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’t they give us the chance to elect the candidates we want?” said another Zanu PF supporter at Concession who confirmed boycotting the election rerun.
The supporters said they wanted to meet the President and raise their grievances.
“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,” added Sheila Dube.
Contacted for comment, Zanu PF political commissar Engelbert Rugeje said he was going to call for a press conference later today (Tuesday) to announce the results of all the 15 constituencies where re-runs were conducted.
Zanu Pf supporters from Mazowe West last week thronged their party headquarters and demanded to see President Mnangagwa over what they said were violations of the electoral processes within their constituency by Kazembe, who is the chairperson for Mashonaland Central.
Reports said Mnangagwa pleaded with the protesters promising them that they were going to be afforded another chance to vote.
The supporters alleged that hundreds of them did not vote because Kazembe had pulled their names out of the voters’ roll, an allegation which Kazembe dismissed.
“I do not have time for that. Those allegations are not true,” he said.