Published by the government of Zimbabwe
15 February 2008
Harare — ASPIRING presidents, MPs and councillors will file their papers at nomination courts throughout the country today with all political parties having finalised the selection of candidates.
Zanu-PF secretary for the commissariat Cde Elliot Manyika yesterday released names of most candidates who will contest the March 29 elections on the ruling party's ticket.
As of last night, Zanu-PF was still expecting to receive results of primaries held in Kadoma, Guruve North, Glen View North and Muzvezve constituencies.
According to the results received so far, some of the party heavyweights and Government ministers, among them Senator Dzikamai Mavhaire, Cde Samuel Mumbengwegwi, Cde Rugare Gumbo, Cde Aeneas Chigwedere, Cde David Chapfika, Cde Edwin Muguti and Cde Kenneth Mutiwekuziva, lost in the primaries.
Zanu-PF has also ironed out differences that had emanated from constituencies such as Makoni West where Cde Joseph Made will now contest for the House of Assembly seat.
Yesterday, Cde Manyika scoffed at some disgruntled aspiring candidates who have dragged Zanu-PF to court to contest the outcome of the primary elections.
"We cannot stop people from going to the High Court. Zanu-PF is an organ with rules and regulations. Our constitution says you have to abide by the rules of the party," he said.
He added that the court had no jurisdiction over matters concerning a voluntary organisation like Zanu-PF.
"The court can make judgments, but we assume that those judgments are in terms of the State Constitution and not the party constitution. The High Court cannot stop us from announcing our candidates. We do not use State laws to run the party. Zanu-PF is a voluntary organisation," he said.
Cde Manyika, who branded as disloyal some elements that have dragged the ruling party to court over primary election results, said any efforts to bar the party from announcing candidates would be duly challenged by its legal department.
"You cannot take the party to court. If you are aggrieved, we have channels through which they (grievances) can be addressed."
He said those who have opted to take the legal route were free to stand as independent candidates.
Cde Manyika revealed that President Mugabe's papers were in order.
"His Excellency's papers are in order and the President is raring to go. He would be nominated tomorrow (today)," he said.
The political commissar said more women would represent Zanu-PF than before.
"We have met the quota system by almost 100 percent. We have done better. If they win against the opposition, we will have more female representatives in Parliament."
Spokesman for the Morgan Tsvangirai MDC faction Mr Nelson Chamisa said his party had already completed conducting primary elections, which saw Tafara-Mabvuku Member of Parliament Mr Timothy Mubhawu and Budiriro MP Mr Emmanuel Chisvuure losing to Mr Shepherd Madamombe and Professor Heneri Dzinotyiwei respectively.
National executive member Mr Last Maengehama lost a rerun in Glen View North House of Assembly constituency while former executive mayor of Harare Mr Elias Mudzuri will stand in Warren Park.
Meanwhile, Mr Mubawu yesterday filed an urgent application at the High Court seeking to interdict the Nomination Court from accepting his party rival's nomination papers.
Mr Mubawu is arguing that the party imposed Mr Madamombe.
He further argues that this was against the party's recent resolution that its entire sitting MPs were supposed to be elected uncontested in their constituencies.
But Mr Chamisa denied suggestions that the party had exempted sitting legislators from primaries, saying all incumbent MPs had to be confirmed.
He said if they failed the confirmation exercise, as happened to the two legislators, they had to go through primary elections.
"All sitting MPs should be subjected to the democratic test. If the majority of the people in that constituency express unhappiness on the performance of any MPs, primary elections would be held," said Mr Chamisa.
Zanu-Ndonga spokesman Mr Reketayi Semwayo said the party's president, Mr Wilson Khumbula, would seek election as a senator in Chipinge.
Mr Semwayo is vying for a House of Assembly seat in Warren Park.
The party's national organising secretary, Mr Gondai Vutuza, called political players to desist from engaging in violence, saying the best candidate should win in the elections and people should accept the outcome of the polls.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission last night said aspiring presidential candidates will file their papers at Mashonganyika Building in Harare along Samora Machel Avenue while Senate and House of Assembly aspirants will submit their nomination papers at any provincial magistrates' court countrywide.
Councillors will file theirs at rural district and urban council head offices in the provinces.
Prospective voters made a last-minute rush yesterday to inspect the voters' roll with authorities reporting a surge in people thronging inspection centres countrywide.
In an interview, ZEC director of public relations Mr Shupikai Mashereni said there was a dramatic increase in the number of people who inspected the voters' roll yesterday.
"Right now, we are still compiling the figures, but reports which we are receiving indicate that more people are coming to inspect the voters' roll today (yesterday). There has been a lot of interest in the inspection of the voters' roll when compared with the previous days," he said.
Mr Mashereni said the voters' roll inspection had gone on smoothly.
The Registrar-General's Office established 5 000 centres in all the wards in the 10 provinces for voters to inspect the roll while ZEC had deployed voter educators to apprise the public on voting.
List of Zanu PF candidates
Bulawayo
House of Assembly
Pelandaba-Mpopoma: Sikhanyiso Ndlovu
Emakandeni-Entumbane: Judith Mkwanya
Bulawayo Central: Dickson Basutu
Bulawayo South: Jimmy Nleya
Bulawayo East: Nacisio Makulumo
Nketa-Emganwini: Coustine Ngwenya
Pumula: Godfrey Malaba
Magwegwe: Molly Mpofu
Lobengula: Christopher Dube
Makokoba: Tshinga Dube
Luveve: Gertrude Moyo
Nkulumane: Orpha Ncube
Senate
Masotsha: Dennis Ndlovu
Khumalo: Joshua Malinga
Mzilikazi: Canisia Satiya
Nketa: Absolom Sikhosana
Mabutweni: Tryphine Nhliziyo
Gwabalanda: Billy Tshuma
Harare
House of Assembly
St Mary's: Chris Pasipamire
Zengeza West: Patrick Nyaruwata
Zengeza East: Ngoni Gwekwete
Chitungwiza North: Joyce Kunaka
Chitungwiza South: Chris Chigumba
Budiriro: Gladys Hokoyo
Glen View South: Idah Mashonganyika
Glen View North: to be finalised
Glen Norah: Peter Mairesera
Highfield West: Kizito Kuchekwa
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