Political Reporter
The confusion that has marred the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate selection process is set to benefit the ruling ZANU PF as there are possibilities that the opposition outfit would have double candidates in some constituencies.
A source who spoke to this publication said that CCC was likely to field double candidates in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park constituency as some members were against Thokozani Khupe’s candidature in that constituency.
According to the source, some CCC members in Cowdray Park were rallying behind Cyprus based, Pasho Sibanda and were threatening bhora musango if Khupe was allowed to represent that party in the forthcoming elections.
“We are likely to have double candidates in Cowdray Park. The electorate wants Sibanda to be their candidate. However, the leadership is in support of Khupe. Members are threatening bhora musango if Khupe is allowed to contest on behalf of CCC. Khupe is being accused by many members of being a traitor and a ZANU PF sympathiser,” said the source.
The same source added that Sibanda was expected in the country from Cyprus to kick-start his campaign regardless of the outcome of the candidate nomination process.
According to the source, Sibanda was arguing that he was senior to Khupe hence he should be allowed to represent that party in Cowdray Park.
“Sibanda is arguing that he is senior to Khupe because he was there during the formation of CCC unlike Khupe who later joined the movement. According to Sibanda, Khupe should not be a candidate for CCC in any constituency or ward because she is treacherous and is a ZANU PF sympathiser,” said the source.
The source revealed that Khupe bribed another Cowdray Park constituency aspirant, Nkosilathi Mpofu-Hove not to contest against her. The source said that Khupe gave an undisclosed amount of money to Hove so that he would contest in the local authority elections to pave way for her in Cowdray Park constituency.
According to the source, Hove and Khupe were birds of the same feather as they all have links to ZANU PF. The source said that Hove should also not be a CCC candidate because he was close to ZANU PF’s Obert Mpofu and was given a farm in Nyamandlovu by same.
The same source said that Khupe and her handlers were contemplating using the same modus operandi of bribery on Sibanda so that he would withdraw his candidature in Cowdray Park.
Meanwhile, two CCC aspiring candidates, Richard Tsvangirai and Raymond Mhlanga are campaigning in Norton despite the delayed announcement of that party’s candidate selection process results.
