Paul Nyathi|Not only was President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction preferred candidates defeated at the all important ZANU PF District Coordinating Committee(DCC) elections for Harare over the weekend, but the much revered nephew of the President was also embarrassed.
Controversial former ZANU PF terror leader Ephraim Fundukwa defeated Mnangagwa’s much fancied nephew Tongai Mnangagwa polling 2 163 votes against the younger Mnangagwa who polled 1652 for the chairmanship of Zone 6 district.
Tongai Mafidi Mnangagwa is currently the Member of Parliament for Harare South constituency and the only ZANU–PF MP representing Harare Province.
Some former provincial executive members who were previously rejected for suspected disloyalty to President Mnangagwa also emerging victorious.
Notables who won the elections include former Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairman Godwills Masimirembwa, former provincial youth chairman Godwin Gomwe, Fundukwa, Kudakwashe Damson and Rosemary Bwititi
Former President Robert Mugabe’s blue eyed boy, broadcaster Robson Mhandu and also found his way into the leadership of the party grassroots in the capital together with Betty Kaseke and businessman Gilbert Muponda.
Masimirembwa won the Zone 4 chairmanship after garnering 475 votes against Stalin Mau-Mau’s 252. Gomwe landed the Zone 2 chairmanship after getting 1 270 votes against Martin Mambo’s 490.
Other chairmen are Damson (Zone 5), Mafuratidze Goodwell (Zone 1) and Chiminhi George (Zone 3).
Zanu-PF national political commissar Victor Matemadanda hailed the election results and urged members to put the interests of the party ahead of their own.
Addressing those who took part in the exercise yesterday, Matemadanda said: “Those elected into positions should take it as an assignment to coordinate, drive the party policy and ideology to the people. Of late DCCs were used by some members as a money-making machine through imposing candidates who pay bribes to get either Parliament or council positions.
“No one owns a person. Stop the imposition of candidates. The upper organ of the party is superior than the lower organ. The majority is superior than the minority, so you should be not caught off guard. Zanu-PF is a people’s party, so those elected should be driven by the will to save the people and be loyal to the President and the party,” said Matemadanda.
He said the party used the democratic process to ensure it comes up with the right candidates.
Speaking at the same occasion, Zanu-PF secretary for Security Lovemore Matuke said DCC elections were meant to strengthen the party.
“The setting up of DCCs will coordinate party programmes from cell to provincial level. They are not meant to create factionalism. Factionalism has no room in the New Dispensation. Members should be driven by the party ideology and policy.
“We want development in Harare. We should stop sloganeering but put more focus on development for the betterment of the people,” he said.
He urged party members in other provinces stop canvassing support for DCC elections before getting instructions do so by the party.