1 zimbabwe election support network [zesn] - Nehanda Radio
1 zimbabwe election support network [zesn] - Nehanda Radio
1 zimbabwe election support network [zesn] - Nehanda Radio
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allegedly supplying voters with scarce commodities at heavily discounted prices, supplying Net<br />
One cell phone lines for free and payment of school fees to children in contested<br />
constituencies.<br />
Incidents of political intolerance were also reported. For instance, one war veteran leader<br />
Joseph Chinotimba in response to Simba Makoni’s announcement to contest in the presidential<br />
race reportedly said “<br />
We are now going to campaign vigorously for President Mugabe. I feel sorry for Makoni,<br />
ayirasa [he has lost the plot]. From today to the nomination date we will have finished with<br />
them. Mupanduki kana achinge apanduka anoziva zvinoita ZANU PF [loosely translated it<br />
means when an enemy comes out in the open he knows what ZANU PF will do].<br />
While it could not be established whether this was the official ruling party position, it remains<br />
mindboggling how an individual who had exercised his constitutional right to stand for political<br />
office could be regarded as an enemy. Such disturbing inclinations to political intolerance were<br />
also echoed in the Zimbabwe Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainees and Ristrictees’ Association’s<br />
statement where Makoni was denounced as a “sellout” and a “rebel”. Such inclinations were<br />
also reflected from the Herald political reporter Ceasar Zvayi who contemptuously equated<br />
Makoni’s decision to a “loud fart all silently agree never happened” at the same time likening<br />
the MDC leader to a cowardly dog.<br />
Primary Elections<br />
Highly contested and intrigue-ridden primary <strong>election</strong>s were held for most constituencies in the<br />
country’s ten provinces with both the MDC and ZANU PF generally reflecting inability to<br />
conduct primary <strong>election</strong>s in a transparent manner. Decisions by the two main political parties<br />
not to conduct primary <strong>election</strong>s in some constituencies where there were sitting MPs sparked<br />
intra party politics with prospective candidates arguing that their parties were imposing<br />
candidates.<br />
In the MDC T camp clashes erupted when the party decided not to hold primary <strong>election</strong>s in<br />
constituencies where there were sitting MPs except for Mabvuku-Tafara and Budiriro<br />
constituencies in Harare. Aspiring candidates in these constituencies felt that the move was<br />
undemocratic and registered as independents. The party’s primary <strong>election</strong> for Mount Pleasant<br />
was abandoned after serious misunderstandings, only to be resolved at the party’s<br />
headquarters. ZANU PF also ruled out primaries in some of its constituencies such as<br />
Chimanimani West and Gutu South while the MDC Mutambara primary <strong>election</strong>s in Nkayi were<br />
also conducted amid outcries that they were fraught with massive irregularities and allegations<br />
that some senior party members were using nepotism and dictatorship in <strong>support</strong> of certain<br />
candidates.<br />
Where primaries were conducted, in most cases, aspiring candidates failed to accept primary<br />
<strong>election</strong> results leading to the nomination of more than one candidate in a number of<br />
constituencies in the MDC T. In ZANU PF, this led to constituencies such as Makoni West,<br />
Masvingo and Masvingo Central fielding two ZANU PF tickets. In the Chivi-Mwenezi senatorial<br />
seat, Josaya Hungwe and Samuel Mumbengegwi locked horns in a re-run after Mumbengegwi<br />
had contested the initial primary <strong>election</strong> result.<br />
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