Wakanda News Details

DCC elections expose Zanu PF

THE chaos that has been the hallmark of Zanu PF district co-ordinating committee (DCC) elections continued yesterday in different parts of the country with re-runs and failure to produce results, while in some areas ballots were found thrown in bins amid suspicions of massive vote rigging. BY KENNETH NYANGANI/BLESSED MHLANGA/MOSES MATENGA/ GARIKAI MAFIRAKUREVA Zanu PF party chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri yesterday said the party will order re-runs in some areas due to the chaos. Due to the volatile nature of the DCC elections, polling stations had to be guarded by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, which the party however said they were not going to pay them. “The police were there to maintain peace and order, and this is not a service that is open only to Zanu PF but to every organization across the board when they have their activities and need police presence,” Muchinguri-Kashiri said. However, police normally charge per hour when they provide security details for private functions. In Muzarabani North, results of the elections started trickling in yesterday, and Muzarabani North MP who is also the Energy Minister Soda Zhemu landed the chairmanship post. Deputy Finance minister and Zaka East MP Clemence Chiduwa was voted chairperson for the Zaka district with 3 582 votes to his opponent, whose name was only given as Chitara, managed 300 votes. Another MP Davison Svuure (Zaka Central) landed the vice chairmanship post after polling 1 988 votes, while his close contender Paradzai Chakona garnered 1 291 votes. However, in Mutare the DCC elections were so chaotic that some original ballot papers were found thrown in bins, which raised fears of rigging. NewsDay is reliably informed that the ballot papers that were thrown into bins were found at First Class Academy School in Sakubva ward 3. A police report was then made. Four candidates namely, Binali Yard, Clever Muparutsa, Ivan Mbengo and Cecilia Gambe are eyeing the Mutare DCC chairmanship. One of the candidates who spoke to NewsDay on condition of anonymity said: “There is now a deliberate plot to delay the process and to frustrate my supporters so that they do not cast their votes. Just imagine we found used original ballot papers at First Class Academy in ward 3 thrown in various bins, this is rigging.” The elections have now spilled into the third day in Mutare and yet some centres in Chikanga have not yet received ballot papers. The Zanu PF provincial secretary for administration Kenneth Saruchera said he was not able to comment about the chaos to media. However, a re-run of the DCC elections was ordered in 14 of the 26 wards in the province. In Mangwe district, Matabeleland South, some wards did not vote amid allegations that the presiding officers did not turn up, especially in Empandeni ward. In response to the chaotic scenes at the DCC elections, Muchinguri-Kashiri during a media briefing warned all rogue elements within the party, saying that there will be a clampdown on anyone who attempts to cheat their way into power. Muchinguri-Kashiri said

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