Political Reporter

The peaceful ZANU PF primary elections that took place last week was a testimony that the Party’s internal democracy has matured, President Mnangagwa has said.

Writing in his weekly column in the The Sunday Mail yesterday, President Mnangagwa said that the maturity exhibited by the ruling Party during the internal polls was testament that it had come of age.

“Today, ZANU PF can lay credible claims to being the author, example, keeper and guardian of democracy in a free, post-colonial Zimbabwe. Our primary elections showed that with will and strong Party leadership, all our people can vote in peace, thereby delivering a clean, free, fair and non-violent poll,” said President Mnangagwa.

President Mnangagwa added that ZANU PF had an obligation to set an example of conducting peaceful polls and to preach against violence in the country.

“We have the onerous obligation and responsibility to set an example on non-violence in the Party and in the country, and to send a clear, undiluted message against any such acts of political violence. This we did, without fear or favour. This we continue to do as we review results which those party primaries yielded. Any instances of infractions against core values and expectations of our Party automatically lead to disqualification, which then trigger internal by-elections.

“Such a stance puts us in a very strong stead to preach, and, in turn, to demand non-violence from all players in the forthcoming national plebiscite, which we insist, must unfold in total peace and harmony before, during and long after,” said President Mnangagwa.

The President added that the just ended primary elections showed that the Party had solid structures which would propel it to an electoral victory this year.

Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa informed that the massive, cross-cutting disciplined zeal exhibited during the Party’s primary elections is a clear indication that it was on the road to a resounding victory in the forthcoming elections.