Paul Nyathi

Zanu PF will tomorrow conduct primary elections to choose its parliamentary candidate in Chivi South to fill a vacancy left following the expulsion of Killer Zivhu, who was legislator for the area.

Zivhu was fired from Zanu PF for abusing social media and treacherous behaviour and automatically lost his parliamentary seat which he won on a ruling party ticket in 2018.

The primaries come at a time when Zivhu has been making a passionate plea for readmission into the ruling party.

He has personally requested to be enrolled for reorientation as a student at the Zanu PF’s Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.

Zivhu was fired on charges of misconduct after he wrote on his Twitter handle that for Zimbabwe’s challenges to end there was a need to push for dialogue between the first lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, and MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa’s wife Sithokozile.

A cast of nine candidates will slug it out in the primaries which will be an acid test in light of the prevailing Covid-19-induced lockdown.

Former Chivi South legislator Mafios Vutete is eyeing a return and will be joined by Munyaradzi Zizhou, Rikios Hlambelo, Dennis Masomere, Peter Matuka, Enock Shindi, Naledi Maunganidze, Samson Mutsamba and Abson Madususe in the fight to represent the ruling party.

Zanu PF National Political Commissar Victor Matemadanda on Monday said it was all systems go for the primaries with Covid-19 precautionary measures put in place.

“We have set Covid-19 protective materials such as masks to cater for those who might not have them and we also have delivered sanitisers and our people will be practicing social distancing while waiting to vote with spacing of between one and two meters apart,” he said.

Matemadanda said large gatherings will not be allowed with party members expected to leave the polling centre soon after casting their ballots.