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Nduduzo Tshuma and Marvelous Moyo Chronicle Reporters
THE Zanu-PF Matabeleland North and South provinces yesterday threw their weight behind the First Lady Umama Grace Mugabe’s candidature to lead the revolutionary party’s Women’s League saying the move would help strengthen and unite the party.Women’s League members from the country’s 10 provinces met in Mazowe last Friday and unanimously resolved to second the First Lady to head the structure.

“It’s something that we are happy about and that we really support. The move will help strengthen the party and bring about unity,” Politburo member Dr Obert Mpofu said.

“President Mugabe and the First Lady campaigned throughout the country ahead of last year’s elections leading to our subsequent victory as a party.

“The First Family also helped in mobilising resources so the First Lady really deserves that post.”

Dr Mpofu said the First Family was against the factionalism that was eating into the party.

“The issue of factionalism has been affecting the party in a negative way. It is the positions that divide people because some tend to buy people and badmouth others when they want certain positions and in the end that affects the party,” he added.

Dr Mpofu’s sentiments were echoed by Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial chairman Cde Richard Moyo during the provincial elections directorate meeting in Lupane.

“We really support what was done by members of the Women’s League in Mazowe. We’re rallying behind them in their decision,” said Cde Moyo.

His Matabeleland South counterpart Cde Andrew Langa also commended the Women’s League for recommending the elevation of the First Lady.

“We are happy that the Women’s League appreciates that the First Lady is a hard worker,” said Cde Langa.

Provincial election directorates in the two provinces met and vetted members of the Youth and Women’s leagues to contest in the provincial conferences ahead of the elective conferences of the respective organs next month.

In Matabeleland North, Cde Nqabayezwe Maphosa from Bubi, Cde Aleck Nyaruwaka from Nkayi, Wellington Tagarira from Binga, Norah Dube from Hwange, Sithandazile Moyo from Tsholotsho and Cdes Delay Ncube and Elizabeth Masuku from Umguza will contest in the provincial youth conference next weekend.

Each district has to be represented by not more than one candidate meaning Cdes Ncube and Masuku will contest each other with district members voting before the weekend internal poll.

Initially, members from the same districts were given an option to talk among themselves and agree on a candidate failure to which their respective districts would have to vote for one.

In the Women’s League, Cde Thokozile Mathuthu and Cde Grace Dube will battle it out in Hwange while Cdes Don Sibanda and Cde Norah Mthethwa from Bubi will contest each other before the holding of the provincial conference on a date to be advised.

In Binga, Cdes Delight Mudenda, Plaxedis Mawu and Veronica Manyuwi will contest each other while in Nkayi, Cdes Sihle Moyo and Alice Ndlovu will face off and in Tsholotsho, Cdes Musa Ncube will wrestle it out with Josephine Moyo.

At the respective conferences, district chairpersons would then vote for those who will contest posts in the national executive of the Youth and Women’s leagues when they meet for their elective conferences next month.

It was revealed in the meeting that 133 youths and 128 members of the provincial Women’s League had been accredited for their conferences.

Cde Moyo called for unity in the party while members were campaigning for votes.

“I urge you not to fight among yourselves when you campaign because we don’t want to divide the people. Those contesting are not allowed to bring their supporters on the day of the conference, it’s only the chairpersons, any other person will not be allowed in,” said Cde Moyo.

“There will be no holding of placards or singing outside the venue, those who will bring supporters or sing will be disqualified. We’ve also notified the police and those that disturb peace will be arrested.”

He also urged Politburo and Central Committee members not to interfere with the process.

“Please do not divide the children. I don’t want to hear that senior party members have dispatched vehicles to the ground to campaign on behalf of  their preferred candidates. Let those candidates contest for themselves with their own resources,” said Cde Moyo.