Beverly Bizeki
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Masvingo West ward 2 candidate Roki Kamuzonda has distanced himself from the self-proclaimed interim party secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu who recalled a sizeable number of councilors, legislators, and senators alleging they had ceased to be members of the party.
Kamuzonda said he did not even know Tshabangu and hears about him like anyone else saying he has never spoken to him ever.
He said allegations that he was linked to him were just political smearing which is normal in any political contest and said he will not be moved by that.
“I don’t belong to any faction, I don’t know Tshabangu personally but I only hear about him like anybody else. How can I know him at this level? This is just a factional war between some leaders at the top and I am not involved in any way,” said Kamuzonda.
Asked about who signed his nomination papers, Kamuzonda said his papers were signed at the party office and he was only called to go and verify which he did and all that was being said was just political smearing.
“My papers were signed in Harare just like anyone else and if there is any faction it is up there where our papers were signed. The reason I entered the race is simply because I am confident that I have support in the ward so it’s not even about factions but the people who are telling me that they stand by me,” said Kamuzonda
He went on to say he recognized the presidency of the party leader Nelson Chamisa and he is the one who can tell him not to contest and no one else.
“In August I wanted to contest as Independent and had filed my papers. However, the president called me before sending a delegation from Harare and we went on to discuss the matter and I withdrew, now that a chance has come, I have to contest.
“I can only withdraw if the president talks to me directly, that way I will know for sure that it’s his decision because as it stands, its people around him who are fighting, so as a party member I am not affected by the factional wars in our party, hondo ndedze vakuru variku Harare ikoko (the factional wars is for the leaders in Harare) and this does not affect my candidature because the people have selected me, the electorate know who their best candidate amongst the four contestants is and they are going to decide in December,” said Kamuzonda.
He also said he had already started campaigning and was confident that he would win the election because he trusted that people have confidence in him.
“I have already started door-to-door campaigns where we are also distributing fliers and I am confident that I will win this election because God is in it and I have trust in the people whom I have served before as I have done what was required of me,” said Kamuzonda.
The ward has 3 candidates from CCC with double candidates Kamuzonda and Chiwara then Frank Chirairo who contested as Independent after another fallout with the party’s candidate selection process.
Chirairo had filed as a CCC candidate in August and later withdrew after negotiation with the party.
Chiwara’s chances are banked on the fact that she is said to be the party or Chamisa faction’s official candidate.
