Candidates boycott Zanu PF primary polls re-run in Chivi
Caz
5/17/00 10:53:12 AM (GMT +2)
Energy Bara, Masvingo
Aspiring Zanu PF candidates in Chivi North have boycotted primary elections
after the party's politburo ordered that they be re-run for the third time.
Former Member of Parliament, Albert Chamwadoro, won the elections twice,
beating Samuel Mbengegwi, Lakayana Dube and Jonathan Hakunavanhu.
On Monday, three of the candidates walked out of a pre-election meeting
chaired by former Harare executive mayor Solomon Tawengwa after accusing the
Zanu PF politburo of trying to impose a candidate on the constituency. "We
are boycotting the elections because we feel the elections will not be
fair," said Chamwadoro. "The politburo ordered a re-run which we did and I
was the winner. Now they want the elections to be run for the third time in
the whole constituency instead of only two centres where violence erupted
during the previous polls. If the politburo wants to declare the loser the
winner then it should go ahead and we will see what to do."
Asked whether he would stand as an independent if dropped by the party,
Chimwadoro said he would wait for the politburo's decision. "People are not
happy with the politburo.
"In Mutare the people's wishes were ignored and that is why Lawrence Mudehwe
won the elections as an independent candidate," he said.