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Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]

THE ruling party Zanu-PF says it is geared to defeat the weak opposition parties in the December by-election and focus the country on a development trajectory in pursuit of Vision 2030.

A total of 31 candidates filed to contest for nine vacant seats at the National Assembly with the opposition CCC fielding double candidates in almost all the seats.

CCC triggered the by-elections after its interim secretary-general Mr Sengenzo Tshabangu recalled the elected officials claiming they ceased to be members of the party.

Mr Tshabangu argued that recalled members were never supposed to be MPs and councillors as they were imposed on the people.

The 15 recalled MPs challenged their recall  at the  High Court but their application was dismissed. While infighting continues to rock the main opposition, Zanu-PF says it is confident of clinching resounding victory in all contested seats.

Zanu-PF politburo member, Colonel (Retired) Tshinga Dube said the December by-elections give Bulawayo a second chance to be in sync with developments nationally.

The party performed badly in the August harmonised elections failing to win any seat but has legislators elected under the quota system. Rtd Col Dube said the Government can bring effective development in the city if it has legislators who can approach the executive and advance their interests. 

“This is time for Bulawayo to introspect and correct the mistake it made in the past election. It is time to vote for a focused political party, not the confusion that we are seeing in the opposition.

“I was reading in the media this morning that CCC fielded double candidates in most of the vacant seats. As Zanu-PF, we are going to capitalise on that confusion as we prepare for the by-election,” said Rtd Col Dube.

He said under President Mnangagwa, Zanu-PF continues to advance the country’s development trajectory and Bulawayo needs to be part of the process. The Second Republic has embarked on several transformative projects including the construction of roads, clinics, and classroom blocks.

Nketa Constituency candidate Cde Albert Mavhunga said it was time citizens shift from protest voting and vote for a party whose track record on development is proven.

“The people should vote for Zanu-PF because the party has a clear vision, and has a clear roadmap of bringing development to the country as a whole. It has the capacity, the New Dispensation has been working very hard to bring transformation to people’s fortunes and they just need to be patient as the fundamentals for development have been implemented,” he said. 

“The people of Bulawayo should also enjoy being part of that development process.”

Cde Mavhunga said in contrast, the opposition has failed to manage the affairs of cities where it has been mandated to govern. He said the infighting in the opposition shows that it cannot be trusted to handle national issues.

“They are failing to run their affairs and their party  is in tatters right now. We cannot imagine a party that is failing to manage its internal affairs. How will they run national institutions,” said Cde Mavhunga.

He said being a Bulawayo son, he believes he understands the issues that affect the city and would want to lobby for the city’s development at the national level.

“As such we want the people in Bulawayo to vote for development. When they vote they influence the development agenda.”

Zanu-PF aspiring Ward 6 councillor Cde Kidwell Mujuru said the opposition is confused and should be dumped.

“The dust has not even settled after the country held harmonised elections and we are back to polls due to selfish interests and infighting by the opposition,” he said. – @nqotshili