Innocent Mujeri
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Midlands Provincial Secretary for Elections, Mike Mutandavari, has commended the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for conducting the just ended by-elections in a transparent and convincing manner.
A source who spoke to this publication said that last week, the CCC party held a provincial meeting at Mtapa Hall in Gweru where that party’s leader Nelson Chamisa was the guest of honour. It was during that meeting that Mutandavari told the attendees that ZEC had conducted the just ended by-elections transparently.
“Mutandavari, who is the provincial secretary for elections, gave a report that the by-elections were held in a transparent and fair manner. He said ZEC’s conduct was above board and he had no complaints against it,” said the source.
The source added that Mutandavari complained that the CCC support base was dwindling considering that in areas where CCC candidates won; they won with a slim margin.
“Mutandavari complained that the CCC winning margin in the previous elections was worrisome. He said CCC candidates won with a slim margin ranging between 30 to 400 votes compared to ZANU PF’s candidates who in their constituencies won by a convincing margin of over 1000 votes,” said the source.
According to the source, Chamisa lashed at his lieutenants for falling to penetrate ZANU PF’s rural strongholds and warned that in 2023, CCC will not field weak candidates that could be easily defeated by ZANU PF.
“Chamisa complained that some of the CCC candidates in the previous by-elections were weak and unmarketable. He warned that in 2023, he will personally appoint party representatives in each constituency to ensure that deserving candidates were fielded on behalf of the party. Chamisa further said that it will be a serious offense in 2023 for a CCC parliamentary candidate to garner more votes than him,” said the source.
At the same meeting, Chamisa directed that Midlands province should mobilise at least 480 000 votes for him instead of the 252 000 votes he got in 2018 from that province.
Mutandavari’s admission that ZEC was a transparent board exonerates the organisation as it has been unjustifiably condemned by detractors of conducting elections in a questionable manner.
