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By SHELTER MUSAKARUKA
BUSINESSMAN James Pande has officially thrown his hat into the ring and declared that he has answered the call by residents of Masvingo Urban constituency to serve them as their legislator.
Zanu PF leader President Emmerson Mnangagwa today told the politburo that the party’s primary elections for the 2023 general elections were going to be held next week.
After Mnangagwa’s announcemwnt, Pande told Zim Community News that he was unruffled by the recent dirty tactics employed by his rival in the Zanu PF primary elections.
“I have always served the people well in various roles beginning with my days as a youth empowerment leader.
“The people of Masvingo know what I am doing for them, these so-called rivals failed to provide service delivery as councillors, that’s where they belong.
Recently, Zanu PF ward 5 political commissar, Isaac Makomichi raised a red flag over the conduct of the party’s Masvingo Province official.
He accused the party’s District Coordinating Committee (DCC) finance secretary, Wellington Mahwende of victimising those he perceives to be scuttling his ambitions to be the party’s parliamentary candidate in the general elections.
Mahwende is also the deputy mayor of Masvingo municipality.
“In ward 5, Masvingo Urban there is James Pande and Mahwende, who both are possible parliamentary candidates for Zanu PF,” Makomichi is heard saying in the audio.
“I am supporting Pande and because of that they have expelled me on false allegations that I was absconding from party meetings, yet they feel that I will influence our members to vote for Pande.
He added that when he approached his chairman to question the decision he was referred to Mahwende.
He warned that victimising party members was tantamount to destroying the party ahead of the general elections.
Zanu PF district provincial chairman, Robson Mavhenyengwa promised this publication that he will investigate the matter.
“I can’t give you a response right now but I promise to respond once we have done our investigations, I know Makomichi.”
Makomichi has since confirmed to this publication that the suspension had been reversed following pressure from party members who supported him.
Efforts to get a comment from Mahwende were fruitless at the time of going to print as his cellphone was unreachable.
