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Chronicle Reporters
ZANU-PF elections to elect provincial chairpersons and their deputies in Manicaland and Midlands were held yesterday and results were expected late last night or today.
However, in Manicaland one of the contestants for the provincial chairperson’s post Cde Monica Mutsvangwa withdrew from the race in protest over alleged irregularities.

Chairpersons of the Women and Youth Leagues were also being elected in the two provinces, ahead of elections in the other eight provinces in the next few days.

The revolutionary party’s National Commissar, Cde Webster Shamu said late yesterday:
“We are still waiting for the results from the Manicaland and Midlands provinces. If there are no problems faced they should come out tomorrow (today),” he said.

He said elections for the three Matabeleland provinces and others could be held any time this week. Elections were originally set in Mashonaland West, Manicaland and Midlands provinces but were indefinitely postponed in Mashonaland West after irregularities were noted.

“We haven’t set the date for Bulawayo provincial elections and other provinces, but they are going to be held any time this week. We have only postponed elections for Mashonaland West. Two provinces Midlands and Manicaland proceeded with their provincial elections and results were expected to come out tomorrow (today),” said Cde Shamu.

In the Midlands, polling progressed well in all districts. Provincial co-ordinator of the elections, Dr Olivia Muchena who is also the Women’s League Political Commissar said results were still trickling in.  She said they expected to announce the results late last night.
“We are still collecting results from various districts and we will have the results announced later today,” she said.

In the province, the incumbent chairman, Cde Jason Machaya, and his deputy, Cde Larry Mavhima were battling it out for the chairmanship. Both expressed confidence to land the powerful provincial post.

“I am confident I will retain the post and the results we are receiving from various districts are favourable,” said Cde Machaya.
Cde Mavhima said he was also confident of landing the post.

“We have received results from most of the districts and I am leading in most of these areas where we have received results,” he said.
Zanu-PF national spokesperson, Cde Rugare Gumbo said:

“We are almost through with the elections (in Midlands) and what only left is some paper work.  The same applies to Manicaland and by tomorrow everything will be in place. The results will only be announced after all provinces are done with their elections.”

In Bulawayo the party’s provincial secretary for information and publicity, Cde Michael Sikhosana said the province is ready for the elections, as the aspiring candidates for Bulawayo province had already submitted their CVs. What is only left,  he said, was the polling date to be advised by Cde Shamu.

“We are ready for the elections. Aspiring candidates have already submitted their CVs and we have since posted them to Harare and we are waiting the election date from the national commissar maybe anytime this week,” said Cde Sikhosana.

Five candidates — Cdes Douglas Ndlovu, Killian Sibanda, Simon Khabo, Tendai Ncube and Joseph Tshuma are vying for the chairman’s post in the province.

In Manicaland acting chairperson, Ambassador John Mvundura was fighting it out with Cde  Mutsvangwa while in the Women’s League, Cdes Joyline Chipo Porusingazi, Clara Mukahanana and Grace Mvududu were the contestants.
However, Senator Mutsvangwa withdrew from the race in protest over alleged irregularities.

Cde Mvundura and elections team leader, Zanu-PF national secretary for legal affairs, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, confirmed the withdrawal but denied any mishap in the electoral process.

“Cde Mutsvangwa who was eyeing the provincial chairperson seat submitted her letter of withdrawal late yesterday (Saturday) night and I asked her to put all the allegations of unfair practice in writing.

“She is still to submit the allegations, but as far as I am concerned the elections went on very well in nine of the 10 constituencies we have received reports and results from. There are 11 constituencies and we hope reports from the last constituency will also be positive,” said Cde Mnangagwa.

Cde Mutsvangwa, said she had withdrawn her candidature because of a number of irregularities.
“I realised that it was important to withdraw my candidature so that all the grey areas in the conduct of the elections are addressed. My team picked up irregularities in almost all the places where voting was taking place.

“People were being intimidated not to vote for me and the voters’ registration was not in order. The main problem is that the outgoing chairman, Cde Mvundura is superintending an election in which he is also a candidate and this gives him an unfair advantage over me.
“Returning officers were impartial. In all districts which I had an upper hand they were starved of ballot papers. Remedial action should be taken. A rerun is important because we want our electoral processes to have integrity,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.
However, Cde Mnangagwa gave the electoral process a thumps up.

“From the reports I received from 10 out of 11 constituencies, nine of them confirmed that everything went well, while in one of the constituencies some irregularities were cited and we will look into them as a team. I want to commend the people of Manicaland for conducting the elections in a peaceful manner although there were logistical challenges encountered.

“Harare delayed dispatching election materials and this saw some people voting today as it took a bit of time to take the materials to all the corners of the province,” he said.

In the Midlands province, Cde Ellina Shirichena was elected unopposed as chairperson of the women’s league.
Cde Shamu said the party had directed that all provinces ensured that all constituencies were represented in the provincial executive.
Affiliate Zanu-PF organisations like war veterans, war collaborators and ex-detainees would also support those supervising the polls.