ZANU PF presidential candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa and his
close challenger MDC Alliance front-man Nelson Chamisa will headline a cast of
presidential aspirants who will present their papers before the nomination
court today, as Zimbabwe hurtles towards one of its most defining polls since
majority rule 38 years ago.
Other notable faces who will contest for the presidency
include former Vice-President and National People’s Party leader Joice Mujuru,
Elton Mangoma (Coalition of Democrats), Dumiso Dabengwa (Zapu) and Thokozani
Khupe (MDC-T), with indications more fringe parties will have presidential
nominees.
Mnangagwa will contest his first election as Zanu PF leader
after riding on the back of a military intervention last November that forced
long time ruler Robert Mugabe to resign under pressure.
He will come up against Chamisa, who rose to power in the
aftermath of founding MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s death in February.
Mnangagwa continues to look over his shoulder, with reports
Mugabe is supporting a splinter group now running under the name National
Patriotic Front, which has since broken into two.
But Chamisa’s MDC Alliance is reportedly also rocking, amid
claims the MDC-T component of the coalition is fielding candidates in
constituencies and wards allocated to partners.
MDC-T spokesperson Thabita Khumalo said she was not in the
country and could not comment on the final list of candidates.
“I have not seen the final list. Please talk to [national
chairman Morgen] Komichi or [Murisi] Zwizwai,” she said.
Komichi and Zwizwai were not available for comment. Ncube’s
party spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said the alliance was “working”.
“As far as we are concerned, we are working well. Any
issues are ironed out at the principals’ platform,” he said curtly.
Zanu PF deputy legal affairs secretary Munyaradzi Paul
Mangwana said he expected Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi to be Mnangagwa’s
chief election agent.
“Normally, the Justice minister serves as the President’s
chief election agent. I cannot confirm, but that is the norm,” he said.
Asked if Zanu PF had dealt with outstanding issues in
constituencies like Harare South and Chegutu West, where former Cabinet
minister Webster Shamu faces allegations of vote rigging, Mangwana said the
ruling party was ready to roll.
NPP secretary-general Gift Nyandoro confirmed Mujuru’s
presidential candidature.
“Yes, we will have a presidential candidate for the
People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC) in the person of Mrs Mujuru. We have not
completed the tabulation of candidates, but indications are that we will have
candidates in every constituency and ward across the country. In Mashonaland
West, we have candidates for all 22 constituencies and the 230 wards,” he said.
Mujuru yesterday told NewsDay that plans to form a grand
coalition between her camp and the MDC-T fell through after Chamisa went
slippery during the negotiations.
“People might say you must unite, yes, we tried it and
approached Chamisa and, in turn, he said he was coming to talk to me, but he
didn’t come.
“I just concluded that he is hamstrung because of these
issues,” she said in reference to power wrangles that rocked the main
opposition party following Tsvangirai’s death in February.
But Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda said Mujuru
had not played her part and that even under the circumstances, there were
possible technical possibilities to have the two work together.
“The president is not slippery. Nothing is impossible with
negotiations, 24 hours is a long time in politics. However, there can be
further technical possibilities beyond the nomination court,” he said.
“What we need is the will and president Chamisa has shown
the willingness to build a winning coalition.”
Khupe’s deputy Obert Gutu said: “We are actually filing her
nomination papers now. It’s game on.”
Mangoma said talks with Chamisa’s MDC Alliance had
collapsed.
Zapu deputy secretary-general Mjobisa Noko also confirmed
Dabengwa would contest the presidency.
Build Zimbabwe leader Noah Manyika, Alliance for People’s
Agenda leader, Nkosana Moyo, Joseph Makamba Busha of Free Zimbabwe Congress and
African National Party leader Egypt Dzinemunhenzva also confirmed they were in
the presidential race.
Meanwhile, in Mashonaland Central, Zanu PF politburo member
Munyaradzi Machacha has been accused of imposing his wife, who was defeated in
primary elections, to stand under the women’s quota.
Zanu PF provincial chairman Kazembe Kazembe claimed it was
nothing “more than a mix-up”.
“The provincial co-ordinating committee, which forms the
provincial election directorate, met last week and agreed on the party lists
which were then sent to the national elections commission. There is no one who
has power to remove a winning candidate unless the candidate does not meet
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission requirements,” Kazembe said.
Machacha said: “Ask the chairperson (Kazembe). I am not
involved. I am not the election commission, it is a provincial matter.” Newsday
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