By Paul Nyathi|The ZANU PF Matabeleland South Provincial Coordinating Committee has outright rejected Minister of State for the Province Abednico Ncube contest as the party candidate for Gwanda South.
The PCC met in Gwanda on Monday and rejected a list sent to the province by the party commissariate with names of candidates who lost primary elections being squeezed in as candidates.
Ncube lost the primary elections to ZBC staff member Ompile Marupi in the primary elections but was brought back to contest the seat by the national commissariat who disqualified Marupi with no explaination given.
Addressing the PCC members, Zanu PF provincial chairman Rabelani Choene distanced himself from the list produced by the national commissariat saying it had a number of irregularities.
He said some losing candidates had been clandestinely allocated posts in districts where they do not come from, while in some cases losing candidates had been declared winners.
“Please note that I have nothing to do with this list, this document came from the national commissariat. If you have any concerns do not direct them at me but to Harare,” said Choene.
PCC members immediately rejected the document and drafted the final list of winners for the national assembly, women’s quarter, senate and provincial council candidates.
“Chairman, we will not accept anything that is not endorsed by this PCC, let us come up with our final list that we will send to Harare. We say no to imposition of candidates,” they said.
Speaking soon after emerging from a closed door meeting with the provincial leadership, Vice President Mohadi commended the province for ensuring transparency and fairness prevails, saying the focus should now be on winning the elections.
He reminded party cadres that there was no winner or loser in the intra-party polls, adding if there are any concerns by any individual they should be raised after the elections.
“The PCC is the authentic body so they have the right to come out with the finalist of their candidates. Those who are grumbling, there is nothing to grumble about, we are Zanu PF, we are not voting for individuals but the party. So your little battles are over,” he said.
Other changes that were made to the previous list saw Rabelani Choene becoming the Beitbridge senatorial candidate instead of Tambudzani Mohadi.
Alma Mkwebu will no longer be the senate candidate for Gwanda after Rennie Kibi was declared the winner.