Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. By Bulawayo Correspondent – SIX Zapu leaders have been confirmed as the party’s presidential candidates while more nominations can still come from the floor during this month’s congress.
The opposition party will be holding its elective congress from 29 to 30 October at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre.
Addressing a press conference in Bulawayo Friday, the opposition party’s secretary-general Strike Mkandla said the six candidates who will be battling it out in the internal elections are himself, party treasurer-general Mark Mbayiwa, former Matebeleland South chairperson Matthew Sibanda, United Kingdom-based Sithembiso Mpofu, Bernard Magugu and Sibangalizwe Nkomo.
Nkomo is the son of late Zimbabwe’s Vice President Joshua Nkomo and is the top contender for the presidential seat.
Last week, the Zapu Bulawayo province nominated him to contest the party’s top post amid allegations of vote-buying and manipulation of the party’s constitution.
According to party sources, some disgruntled delegates from Bulawayo South boycotted the provincial congress citing irregularities in the manner the elections were being conducted.
“There could be seven candidates as there is still a possibility of a nomination from the floor during the congress to take care of whoever is left out for one reason or the other,” Mkandla said.
Congress allows nomination from the floor. If one can garner a certain percentage from the present delegates, one can then enter the ballot box as well right on the day of the congress itself.
“The party provides for that provided one actually satisfies the requirements in the vetting form for candidates, which is 25% of the present people at the congress,” Mkandla added.
Speaking at the same press conference, the party’s acting president Isaac Mabuka dismissed reports that the entrance of Nkomo into the presidential race had divided the party.
“We have heard a lot that the party is splitting. That is not true. We have not skipped any stage of preparations. Last year, branches elected branch executive committees in their areas,” Mabuka said.
“Since we have 220 constituencies, geographically they become our districts where district committees are elected and each district nominates one person who must be part of the National People’s Council.”
However, the acting Zapu President admitted Masvingo and Harare provinces had failed to hold their provincial congresses due to “hitches”.
“We are passing through a lot of turbulence. We are on a flight, it can never really be as smooth as we expect, but as far as I know, we are very stable. When other political parties do their elections, there are squabbles, and physical squabbles have not happened here,” he said.
During the congress, delegates will elect the president, vice president, national chairperson, secretary-general, and treasurer-general.
Mabuka also dismissed the widely held perception that the party is regional.
The new president will replace the late Dumiso Dabengwa who died in May 2019.
