ZANU-PF, MDC-T cracks widen

ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) have been rocked by fissures following disputed primary elections aimed at choosing candidates for the forthcoming polls, but President Robert Mugabe’s party appears hardest hit.
Sources this week said President Mugabe was likely to personally intervene to lessen the impact of the fall-out as he pulls all stops to reverse the gains made by Prime Minister (PM) Morgan Tsvangirai’s party in the March 2008 general polls.
Both ZANU-PF and the MDC-T have seen some of their disgruntled members registering with the Nomination Court as independent candidates, while in at least one Manicaland constituency the latter has two candidates registering on its ticket.
The Minister of Housing and Social Amenities Giles Mutsekwa and top lawyer Arnold Tsunga successfully had their papers accepted by the Nomination Court in Mutare’s Dangamvura-Chikanga constituency last Friday, with the party said to be working to ensure that one of them withdraws his candidature.
Mutsekwa was defeated by Tsunga, but the results were suspended after the minister alleged that he had been physically attacked, thereby affecting the outcome.
Although Tsunga could not comment on the developments, residents rooting for the lawyer said the Housing Minister had feigned the attack to earn sympathy and win back his way to Parliament.
In an interview, Mutsekwa said: “Yes I was attacked and I sustained some injuries. I have not yet reported to the police, but I am in the process of doing so.”
He added that he had not sought any medical help. The minister said only one candidate would represent the party in his former constituency, but added that there would be no fresh primaries.
Party insiders this week expressed fears that Mutsekwa might be imposed on the people ahead of Tsunga who has worked at the International Commission of Jurists.
The MDC-T’s Grace Kwinje was also elbowed out of the race when her initial victory in Makoni Central was overturned following alleged voting discrepancies. Kwinjeh did not respond to questions sent to her by The Financial Gazette.
Recently, there were protests at the MDC-T headquarters when angry demonstrators protested against Elias Jembere, the MDC-T MP for Epworth, who was confirmed as the parliamentary candidate after allegedly losing during the primaries.
There were also other reports of irregularities in almost every province, with some party activists burning ballot papers in frustration.
The extent of internal rigging in ZANU-PF has seen some of its members who have opted to run as independents expressing fears that their rivals were sure to seek victory by hook and crook in the main poll.
Yesterday, disgruntled ZANU-PF supporters besieged the party’s headquarters protesting against its sham primary polls.
Top lawyer, Jonathan Samkange, who was disqualified from contesting in Mudzi South and launched an independent bid, this week expressed fears that the process might be tampered with in his constituency in the general election and urged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to be vigilant.
Even in President Mugabe’s home district, infighting was fierce.
In Zvimba North, the party’s secretary for lands Ignatius Chombo faced allegations that figures had been inflated in his favour to win the right to represent the party.
Chombo’s ex-wife Marian has since filed her papers as an independent candidate after her name was missing from the ballot papers despite having been cleared to stand.
In Mbare, Politburo member Tendai Savanhu’s victory is being challenged in the courts by the losing candidate Nelson Chadamoyo who alleged that the process was marred by political violence.
In Bikita West, ZANU-PF also has a case of two aspiring MPs, Munyaradzi Kereke and Elias Musakwa registering on the party’s ticket to contest in the polls.
Analysts this week said the fall-out in the parties was likely to cost them some votes, with ZANU-PF appearing to be the worst affected considering the extent of the acrimony that has been generated by its primaries.