HARARE – Zanu PF decided this week to suspend provincial elections scheduled for that week, threatening to further divide the party.
The ruling party’s deputy national spokesman, Mike Bimha, told reporters on Monday that provincial elections would be postponed to allow the party to focus on preparations for the party’s annual conference, scheduled for October 25 in the central province of Mashonaland.
“The Politburo has decided to suspend the provincial elections until further notice to allow the structures to focus on the preparations for the conference,” Bimha said after an extraordinary meeting of the Zanu PF Politburo.
Provincial election campaigns were marred by factionalism, smear campaigns and threats, and threatened to turn bloody, while exposing deep-rooted factions within the party.
Cases of chaos have been reported in almost every province, mainly in the Midlands, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, Manicaland and Masvingo, where party bigwigs face off in a fight for control of provinces.
The factional movement pits supporters of President Emmerson Mnangagwa against supporters of his ambitious deputy Constantino Chiwenga.
The chaos that marred the holding of the provincial elections came amid similar challenges the party faced in holding the District Coordinating Committee elections, which remain contentious.
Bimha said the special session of the Politburo received reports on preparations for the National People’s Conference from national party leader Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and decided to hold the Indaba in accordance with Covid-19 regulations.
Few party members will be physically present, while others will follow the proceedings virtually from provincial centers.
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