Omega Hungwe
… Chitepo School of Ideology moves to stop bhora musango
…aspiring candidates forced to sign oaths of allegiance
Upenyu Chaota
The principal director of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology and Zanu PF politburo member, Munyaradzi Machacha has warned that his party would be a threat unto itself if losers of this Sunday’s primary elections do not concede graciously.
Machacha is also in charge of the party’s cell structure verification in Masvingo province.
Speaking at a provincial coordination committee (PCC) at Victoria Junior School recently, Machacha warned the primaries, if not managed properly, could trigger an implosion in the party.
He said the Chitepo School of Ideology, working together with the Zanu PF, commissariat have devised a strategy to make all the aspiring candidates sign oaths of allegiance tying them to the party regardless of the outcome of the primary elections.
“We do not face any imminent threat from outside the party. Our real threat is from within and we need to address that issue head on.
“We know primary elections divide people and it takes true party cadres to accept defeat and support the winner. We are one and we should always move as one,” said Machacha.
There is widespread discontentment on the ground after some aspiring members, who had paid the required money to contest in the primaries, saw their hopes blow up in their faces after they were disqualified.
“In every game, there is a winner and a loser. In politics, it’s unfortunate there is no draw; you either win or lose. For those who will lose, we want you to support the winners so that the party can move forward.
“We do not want a system where people threaten a bhora musango because they have lost the race. It is against this background that we would like all the aspiring candidates to sign oaths of allegiance that are binding.
“The document will outline the rules of engagement in our primaries and that a member will accept the outcome,” said Machacha.
Machacha said Zanu PF is not at all moved by activities from opposition parties which have seen the MDC Alliance pulling huge crowds at rallies, saying his party only needs to go the test of primaries and romp to victory in the general elections expected in July or August.
The Zanu PF national deputy secretary for the commissariat, Omega Hungwe once told a Masvingo provincial inter-district meeting that all the aspiring candidates from local government and national assembly should have certificates from the Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology so that they are properly inducted into the ruling party’s principles.local