ZANU PF national commissar Mike Bimha has ordered party members to desist from campaigning ahead of the 2023 elections.
He said the party would announce the time party members could begin campaigning for primary elections before next year’s polls, NewsDay reported. Bimha is quoted as saying:
When the time comes, you will know the criteria and the guidelines of the primaries. The party will announce when to start the campaigns. I am appealing to our members to desist from campaigning, issuing placards, or sending messages through social media, some with their own faces on T-shirts. We are appealing to our members to desist from such practices; failure which they will face disciplinary action.
The use of social media is an acceptable way of communication, but we also don’t believe that it must be abused. We want to see people use social media for the purposes of disseminating constructive ideas, information, positive contribution for the party and campaigning for the party and President.
Bimha added that instead of party members de-campaigning each other, they should approach relevant offices if there is evidence suggesting that one is unfit to hold office.
He warned that intra-party conflict might shake ZANU PF structures and cost the ruling party in the 2023 elections.