Mnangagwa polled less votes than some of the party’s
National Assembly candidates who polled 144 680 votes more that Mnangagwa,
according to Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) figures.
Mnangagwa won in 127 constituencies, while Zanu PF won in
136 in this election against the ruling party’s directive ahead of the polls
that no aspiring party parliamentary of council candidate should poll more
votes than Mnangagwa.
In 2018, Mnangagwa’s vote tally of 2 456 010 was 21 698
votes less than Zanu PF’s total parliamentary votes of 2 477 708.
Manicaland Zanu PF official Robert Nyebudzo has allegedly
become the first victim to be charged with bhora musango following the defeat
of Enock Porusingazi by CCC’s Clifford Hlatshwayo in Chipinge South.
Bhora musango was popularised during the 2008 elections
when Zanu PF supporters voted for the ruling party candidates in the
parliamentary elections while rejecting the late former President Robert
Mugabe.
Porusingazi lost the ruling party’s primary elections to
Robert Nyemudzo, but the latter was immediately arrested for brewing illicit
beer and disqualified for the primaries. Porusingazi, who came second,
automatically became the party candidate.
In a letter seen by NewsDay, Zanu PF Manicaland leadership
has summoned Nyemudzo to a disciplinary hearing for allegedly sabotaging the
party.
“It is alleged that you funded bhora musango in Chipinge
South to the extent of celebrating Zanu PF loss,” the letter read.
Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairperson Tawanda Mukodza
said the party was flushing out those who sabotaged Mnangagwa in the elections.
“For the party to survive we need astute loyal cadres,
discipline is key and the constitution of the party must be respected,” he
said.
In July, former State Security minister Owen Ncube warned
aspiring Zanu PF legislators against garnering more votes than Mnangagwa.
Ncube, who is the Zanu PF Midlands provincial secretary for
security, said polling more votes than Mnangagwa, the party’s presidential candidate,
was a cardinal sin that should be avoided.
However, the election proved that some legislators were
more popular than their presidential candidate.
In Hwedza South constituency, Zanu PF candidate Tinoda
Machakaire had more votes than Mnangagwa.
Gold dealer Pedzisai “Scott” Sakupwanya who lost in the
Mabvuku-Tafara constituency also garnered more votes than Mnangagwa.
Barbara Rwodzi, a Zanu PF candidate in Chirumanzu South,
also garnered more votes than Mnangagwa.
In Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park constituency; Finance minister
Mthuli Ncube had more votes than Mnangagwa.
In an interview yesterday, political analyst Rejoice
Ngwenya said the low votes by Mnangagwa compared to parliamentary candidates
indicated that he was not popular in his own party.
“l am not even shocked that Mnangagwa is less popular than
his candidates, he should only thank Zanu PF for campaigning for him. Yes
elections are over, we are left with contestation,” he said.
Another analyst Vivid Gwede weighed in saying Mnangagwa was
less popular than his political party even in areas where his party dominates.
“This could also be a sign of voters making different
choices of parties for local positions like MP’s and the Presidency. In other
words, voters are not following party statutes,” he said.
Political analyst Tendai Reuben Mbofana said Mnangagwa was
being rejected because of the economic meltdown.
“This is the same scenario we witnessed in 2008 elections,
the first reason is of factional fighting in Zanu PF, in some rural areas we
have heard of traditional leaders saying vote for Zanu PF candidates but for
the Presidency CCC candidate Nelson Chamisa,” said Mbofana.
‘’One of the reasons is that some of the candidates were
imposed during the primary elections. Zanu PF supporters are showing their
anger by rejecting him (Mnangagwa) and the other reason Mnangagwa was being
rejected was because of the economic meltdown, people have suffered.” Newsday
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