The ManicaPost
Post Reporter
OPPOSITION political parties’ double standards have been heavily exposed ahead of the Chimanimani West by-election where they claim not to be taking part, but instead are clandestinely channelling resources to an independent candidate, The Manica Post has learnt.The Chimanimani West by-election, which will see Zanu PF’s Cde Nokuthula Matsikenyere battling out with Mr Peter Gudyanga (Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe), Mr Edmore Mtetwa (Independent) and Mr Pesanai Musakaruka (National Constitutional Assembly), is slated for November 26.
In an interview this week, Zanu-PF provincial secretary for administration, Cde Kenneth Saruchera, said they were leaving no stone unturned in their quest to win the Chimanimani West by-election.
Cde Saruchera confirmed that the MDC-T and Zim People First parties are making frantic efforts to support independent candidate Mr Edmore Mtetwa yet they have been on record that they would not take part in the election.
“We understand that the independent candidate is being sponsored heavily by both the MDC-T and Zim People First but we are saying this is just cowardly in nature.
“Instead of sponsoring an independent candidate they should come out in the open and put forward their candidate. We all know that they are doing so because they want to claim responsibility is he eventually wins the election or easily shy away from him if he loses the election.
“What we know is that people will reject parties that show great deal of cowardice. People now know that the two parties have no policies or programmes to sell to the people and their only choice is to hide behind independent candidates.
“After all, we also know that independent candidates have no influence at all in terms of policy making and party back up. They are people driven by selfish personal interests,’ said Cde Saruchera.
He added that the people of Chimanimani are the ones who approached the party complaining about Engineer Munacho Mutezo’s conduct and the party listened to them.
“The people of Chimanimani are the ones who approached the party complaining about Engineer Munacho Mutezo’s conduct and the party listened to them. Not only did the party listened to them but also took action.
“It is against this background that the people of Chimanimani cannot now desert the party that is resolving leadership problems in the area. After all, the ZANU PF candidate Cde Matsikenyere was elected through a democratic primary election process hence the people of Chimanimani are quite aware of what they want,” he added.
The Zanu PF provincial secretary for administration bemoaned cases of vote buying that are reportedly rife ahead of the by election.
“We are hearing cases of vote buying in the area and that is deplorable. People are being given $50 each to vote for a certain candidate. We think the people of Zimbabwe are now politically mature that they now understand that the source of that money will dry up as soon as someone is voted into office. In the same breadth, the people of Chimanimani will vote for the right candidate who will further the interests of their constituency through a tried and tested party,” he said.
He said Zanu PF is seriously looking into some of the major challenges in the constituency that range from provision of boreholes in every ward, drought relief assistance, ensuring that irrigation schemes are functional as well as opening effective lines of communication between the people and the local authority and Government departments.
Zanu-PF has intensified its campaigns for the Chimanimani West by-election by seconding Politburo members to different wards where they are drumming up support for Cde Matsikenyere.
Last Friday, saw Zanu-PF national commissar, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere and Secretary for Transport and Welfare Cde Oppah Muchinguri descending on the constituency for the second time in as many weeks where they called for unity of purpose among all members to ensure a resounding victory for the ruling party.
