Zimbabwe VP Joice Mujuru stresses a point during a Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting in Bindura on June 16, 2013. Zimbabwe is preparing for national elections July 31., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Wednesday, 17 July 2013 00:37
Michael Chideme in MUDZI
Zimbabwe Herald
Vice President Joice Mujuru has urged Zanu-PF followers to desist from supporting independent candidates who were expelled from the party, saying they risked a similar fate for backing them. Cde Mujuru was speaking at a rally at Chifamba High School in Mudzi to drum up support for Zanu-PF candidates ahead of the harmonised elections on July 31.
“It pains that some people who claim to be educated have decided to stand as independent candidates,” she said, in apparen referrence to lawyer Jonathan Samukange who defied the party to stand as an independent candidate in Mudzi South.
“Kuzvitutumadza nekuzvikwidza ndege dzemashanga. Tazoona kuti education iya haibatsire.”
The other candidates who defied the party to stand as independents are Daniel Garwe in Murewa North and Marian Chombo in Zvimba North.
Cde Mujuru said it was sad that with all the education that some of the independents claimed to have they failed to realise that it was the people who choose leaders.
“Do not follow independents,” she said.
“They are deceitful. They promise heaven on earth when they themselves are in hell,” she said.
Cde Mujuru said traditional leaders should guide the people correctly and desist from dividing the electorate by supporting renegades and sellouts.
She said being an independent was a refusal to accept internal democracy.
“If you did not want competition, why did you enter the race?” she said.
“We said as a party that if you go against the majority views and decide to stand as an independent you are a sellout and stand expelled from the party.”
Cde Mujuru said once the internal party democracy selects a single candidate, all party supporters and members should rally behind the candidate.
She said the people should not be hoodwinked into thinking that the independents would be re-admitted into Zanu-PF if they won elections.
The new Constitution has no provision for floor crossing.
Cde Mujuru said each branch of the party from where independent candidates come should write to the structures above informing them of the presence of such for procedural disciplinary measures.
She said traditional leaders should always remember that it was their predecessors who rallied the children of Zimbabwe to war.
“Handina kumbonzwa nyamhunu zvake akati endai munorwisa vachena,” she said. “Vaive madzishe nemhondoro.”
Cde Mujuru urged those aspiring for elected public office to meet the people regularly, respect and plan developmental projects with them.
She warned the people against beating up others to force them to support their political views. She said such elements would not be around in the ballot box to ensure that the people they beat up vote for them.
Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial chairman Cde Ray Kaukonde said at the same rally that people should accept that leadership positions come in turns.
Cde Kaukonde complained that some party supporters were doube-dipping by appearing to support Zanu-PF during the day and dining with independent candidates at night.
Before the rally, Cde Mujuru commissioned an electricity project by switching on power to boost the development of the area and help reduce rural to urban migration.
She urged the local community to derive maximum benefit from the electrification programme, urging them to venture into welding, milling and other activities that require electricity.
The electrification programme spearheaded by the Rural Electrification Agency will initially benefit 19 institutions among them schools, clinics and Government centres.
The programme, that uses a single line known as the single wire earth return, is being piloted in Mudzi district in the Southern African region.
Speaking at the commissioning of the project, Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma urged people to pay their electricity bills.
He said electricity drives rural development, helps reduce deforestation and allows school children to conduct evening study sessions.
Chief Nyamukoho complained that the electrification project was done without the participation of the local community.
He said in future those bringing development to rural areas should work with the local leadership.
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