Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front leader Emmerson Mnangagwa says although there were teething problems in the party’s just ended primary elections to select candidates for the coming elections, the party was on the right path to score an overwhelming victory in the harmonised national elections due in the next few months.
Zimbabwe has to hold its elections in July or August according to the national constitution.
Some reports have said that the elections were marred by vote-buying and rigging but Mnangagwa said his party had noted the teething problems experienced so far but it remained convinced that the democratic course it had started was the correct one.
“Whatever these initial challenges, it must never be lost to us that we are the party of national liberation which is governing national affairs,” Mnangagwa said.
“This means our responsibilities in shaping and reshaping the national body politic, as well as the national democratic and electoral ethos, can never be shirked or overstated.
“As the ruling Party, the democratic content and standards of our processes define and pre-ordain our national politics.
“We thus must not fear to widen the scope and play of the elective ethic in our party affairs and processes. Whatever challenges we face in the interim must thus be in the direction of firmly rooting the democratic ethos which, after all, we planted in the land through our historical sacrifices as a party of national liberation.
“Far more poignant than the teething problems we have encountered in this internal selection project is the overwhelming turnout of our people who have registered their enthusiasm and keenness to participate in this process which, after all, they see as guaranteeing their successful election in the forthcoming plebiscite.
“Throughout the country, the strength of our party has been on show in these past two days.
“Equally, our capacity to compete against one another in a non-antagonistic, comradely way has been demonstrated.
“We have thus sown the seed of internal party democracy; we have thus successfully tested our cohesion as members of the same political family. And because of both, we have sent clear signals to those who have chosen to pit themselves against the sheer might of our party.”
ZANU-PF will be contesting at least another 123 parties if all the political parties registered with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission contest the elections.
Mnangagwa is still to proclaim the date for the elections but they have to be held between 21 July and 21 August.
He has to proclaim the elections 84 to 44 days before the polling date.
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