by Christopher Makaza
The ruling party’s on-going District Coordinating Committees (DCC) elections across the country are progressing well despite challenges of bad roads in most rural areas due to the current rains and the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the country, says Zanu-PF National Chairman Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.
In a press statement on the DCC elections at the National Command Centre, Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri highlighted that the National Command Centre was established to ensure free and credible election and thanked President Emmerson Mnangagwa for his vision, guidance and unwavering support for the ruling party.
“Since Saturday, the National Command Centre and I have been closely monitoring progress so far achieved towards the holding of DCC elections across the board to satisfy myself and my team. We have since established that since Saturday remarkable progress was achieved.
“I am happy to report that the DCCs election process has progressed well and have achieved 80 percent completion without any major incidences of violence, intimidation and indiscipline. Notably Mashonaland Central province preformed above board with no adverse reports brought to the attention of the National Command Centre,” said Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri.
She however acknowledged delays in the distribution of ballot papers and boxes, inequitable distribution of ballot papers and shortage of presiding officers as challenges which were encountered in some places.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri noted that there were some low voter turnout in some areas like Gokwe North, Mberengwa, Muzarabani and Sanyati due to incessant rains adding that the late arrival of election material and personnel at polling stations in remote areas due to bad roads delayed the voting process.
She also said that in areas where some individuals may have chosen to act contrary to rules and guidelines that were given by the party, investigations will be conducted and if irrefutable evidence of some manipulation of the systems or rules emerge, the National Command Centre may recommend re-runs in order to make sure that the will and wishes of the party members are respected.
“Any malcontents who have orchestrated such indiscipline and brought the party into disrepute will be held accountable. As Chairman, I must hasten to say that we are a democratic party and we expect all our members at all levels to abandon behaviour that is contrary to our democratic principles and our desire to build a strong internal democratic culture that is underpinned by high levels of discipline, “she said.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said the National Command Centre will officially announce the results as soon as they are validated and will update Constituencies on the final results as soon as the process is concluded.
DCCs were re-introduced at the 17th National people’s Conference in Esigodini, Matabeleland South province in 2018, after they had been banned in 2012.
