Zanu PF Primaries Moved to Tuesday as National Poll Preparations Continue
Jonga Kandemiiri
President Robert Mugabe's party says every party-carrying member will be able to vote in the primary elections
WASHINGTON DC —
President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF has moved its primary elections from Wednesday to Tuesday, a move party spokesman Rugare Gumbo says will give successful candidates enough time to submit their names to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission before the Wednesday deadline.
The nomination court is expected to sit on Friday 28 June. ZEC said all candidates wishing to contest should have registered with its offices throughout the country by end of the day Wednesday.
Initially the former ruling party primaries were set to be held Monday but last week Zanu PF moved the elections to Wednesday to allow its Provincial Election Directorates time to review applications from disqualified candidates following demonstrations by disgruntled members and supporters.
Gumbo told VOA the change of dates will not confuse their members.
"We have the machinery to advise them. I'm out in the district right now, we have been holding meetings to tell our candidates to go out and explain the situation," he said.
Divisions in Zanu PF have been blamed for the party's reluctance to hold primary elections as preparations for national polls continue.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC formation has not been spared embarrassment in the primary elections either with violence breaking out in a number of constituencies. Some supporters and candidates have been complaining that the party imposed candidates in some constituencies.
