By Paul Nyathi|ZANU PF has gone to the mountains blaming government owned Jongwe Printers for causing the chaos witnessed in its primary elections that virtually failed to kick off on Sunday.

Though a few areas managed to go ahead with the voting where material arrived on time, in most areas voting was called off at sunset as voting material had not been delivered to the polling stations or was incorrect.

In an interview with journalists on Sunday evening, the ZANU PF’s National Elections Committee chairperson Engelbert Rugeje said an unanticipated breakdown at Jongwe Printers last Friday caused the glitch on the elections.

“We had been assured by Jongwe Printers that they would be through with printing by Friday. They eventually had technical problems with their machines, which broke down, but they took long to inform us hoping that they would be fixed on time. The problems have since been dealt with,” Rugeje.

He said logistical challenges that plagued the preparations were expected given the high number of people who have expressed an interest to represent the party.

“This election attracted interest from a lot of people and these problems are expected. Some of the problems were related to people whose names could not be found in the register. This is why we urge people to go and verify and inspect the register to avoid these problems,” he said.

He said voting will continue on Monday until every eligible member who intends to vote has done so.

However, exiled former party heavyweight Jonathan Moyo rubbished the excuse being given by the party claiming that the chaotic situation in the primaries is a deliberate move to rig the elections in favour of candidates close to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“If you honestly believe that the junta chaos, alleged Jongwe Press breakdowns, Army & Commissariat incompetence displayed by Rugeje and postponement of your primaries represents a new dispensation, then you are all mad,” said Moyo in a Twitter post.

Among the issues emanating from the elections was that some voters were not included in the voters roll compiled by the party cell leaders.

Allegations that the leaders deliberately excluded from the voters roll some people known to be favouring unwanted candidates were reported from most areas.

In some areas, some candidates were not appearing on the ballot papers.