Joice Mujuru‘s Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) party is divided on whether to contest in the oncoming Mwenezi East by-election. Doubt has crept into ZimPF’s ranks after the party was trounced in the Bikita West by-elections by Zanu PF. Kudakwashe Gopo of ZimPF lost by more than 10 000 votes, to eventual winner Beauty Chibaya of ZanuPF. Some party members want to withdraw from Mwenezi East, fearing a repeat of what happened in Bikita West. However, others want to contest the election.
Some party members who spoke to Tell Zimbabwe said:
This issue of by-elections has divided us. Just like what happened before the Bikita West elections, we were against participating but Makova gave us a false assurance and rushed us into an election. We are very divided now because we still believe that we are not ready for the elections.
However, party secretary for elections Kudakwashe Bhasikiti said:
Our position is very clear – we shall contest any election. We are not MDC-T, it is our constitutional mendate to contest the elections, winning or losing is another thing but we must participate. The people who are suffering are looking up to us for redemption and we must be on the ground fighting all the time. We learnt a lot in Bikita West and I am sure we will be stronger in Mwenezi East
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