Published by the government of Zimbabwe
6 December 2008
Harare — THE Zanu-PF Politburo has nullified the election of Cde Mike Madiro as the party provincial chairman for Manicaland and cleared Harare South MP Cde Hubert Nyanhongo to contest for the Harare province chairmanship.
Cde Madiro had bounced back after the lifting of his suspension for participating in the infamous Tsholotsho meeting that led to the suspension of six provincial chairpersons in 2004.
But the Politburo overturned his election, saying he should start from the lowest level in the party -- the cell.
In an interview, Zanu-PF deputy secretary for information and publicity Cde Ephraim Masawi yesterday said the ruling party's supreme decision-making body had agreed unanimously to invalidate Cde Madiro's election.
"A decision was made by the Politburo to nullify Cde Madiro's election into the provincial executive because of his suspension for taking party in the unsanctioned meeting at Dinyane, Tsholotsho, in 2004," he said.
He said Cde Madiro was expected, according to the party's constitution, to go through the party structures at grassroots level before he could stand for a provincial post.
"Party cadres suspended for participating at the Dinyane meeting are supposed to start from cell level, so Cde Madiro has to rise through party structures," Cde Masawi said.
He said the provincial vice-chairman, Cde Basil Nyabadza, would lead the party in Manicaland on an interim basis until a decision is made.
Cde Madiro was suspended together with five other provincial chairpersons -- Daniel Shumba (Masvingo), Cde Themba Ncube (Bulawayo), Cde Jacob Mudenda (Matabeleland North), Cde July Moyo (Midlands) and Cde Lloyd Siyoka (Matabeleland South).
Cde Mudenda was also barred from contesting in provincial elections in Matabeleland North after party political commissar Cde Elliot Manyika maintained that he had to rise through party structures.
Cde Masawi said the Politburo endorsed results from the other provinces while elections in Harare, Matabeleland North and South provinces would be held this weekend and on Monday.
"The elections would start this weekend in Matabeleland North and South while Harare would conduct theirs on Monday," he said.
He said Cde Nyanhongo and other party cadres suspended by the outgoing provincial executive in Harare could participate in the provincial elections as their case was yet to be finalised.
The Zanu-PF Harare provincial leadership, led by Cde Amos Midzi, recently barred Cde Nyanhongo, who is challenging Cde Midzi for the provincial chairman's post, from participating in all party activities.
He was suspended along with National Incomes and Pricing Commission chairperson Cde Godwills Masimirembwa and other party members from carrying out party activities.
Cde Nyanhongo and Cde Midzi's supporters recently clashed at the party provincial headquarters as campaigning heated up.
President Mugabe on Thursday urged party members in Harare to conduct their elections in peace and condemned acts of violence and vote-buying in the run-up to the polls.
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