Mutsvangwa calls for vigilance

Published: 05 June 2018

Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has called for unity of purpose among Zanu-PF members and urged them to keep an eye on political parties bent on destabilising the ruling party ahead of the harmonised elections slated for July 30.

She said this on Saturday while addressing members of the ruling party during a provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting in Mutare.

The meeting was convened to announce the rankings of candidates who will represent Zanu-PF in the Senate, the women's quota and provincial council during the harmonised elections.

Minister Mutsvangwa said divisions in the party would give "infiltrators" an advantage and cost Zanu-PF votes during the elections.

"I would like to say unity is important because what we are seeing on the ground requires us to walk as a unit," she said. "As your Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, I am receiving reports of parties that are undertaking various activities on the ground at night.

"They will obviously take advantage of us if they see cracks amongst ourselves."

Minister Mutsvangwa said it was important for the party leadership to educate people at grassroots on the importance of unity and the benefits to Zanu-PF.

She said although there were people who were angry at the manner the primary elections were conducted, it was time to bury the hatchet and move forward.

"I am appealing to all of you to reflect on the importance of principles within the party," said Minister Mutsvangwa.

"It is important for everyone to know that if there is discord, votes will be lost, and people like (MDC-T leader Nelson) Chamisa will take advantage of them."

Minister Mutsvangwa said all party members should work hard for the ruling party and President Emmerson Mnangagwa to win the elections.

She said she was looking forward to Zanu-PF retaining all the seats in Manicaland, including Mutare Central, which had been in opposition's hands for a long time.

Dr Nancy Saungweme will represent Zanu-PF in Mutare Central during the harmonised elections.

Provincial chairman Mike Madiro took the opportunity to remind losing sitting Members of Parliament to continue discharging their parliamentary duties.

He also reminded those who will be representing Zanu-PF during the elections that they were not yet MPs, hence they needed to work with sitting MPs.

"To those who won during the primary elections, you did not win for yourselves, you won for the party," said Madiro.

"I would like to remind you that you are not yet Members of Parliament. Secondly, to the sitting MPs, Parliament has not yet been dissolved. The law will tell you when it will be dissolved so that means MPs are still in office.

"If you do not work together there will be disharmony. You need each other for the benefit of the party."
- the herald

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