…..as Mataruse wins Chinhoyi nomination process
Political Reporter
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa was left with an egg on his face as his rival, Peter Mataruse narrowly won that party’s nomination exercise held last Saturday in Chinhoyi.
A source who spoke to this publication said that Chamisa had accused Mataruse the incumbent Chinhoyi legislator, of manipulating the previous candidate selection process through vote buying and intimidation of other contestants. Chamisa then ordered that the process should be conducted afresh and reportedly told the Candidate Independent Selection Panel (CISP) that Mataruse should not emerge victorious.
Unlike in other constituencies, Chamisa ordered that a secret ballot should be used in Chinhoyi to elect the party’s representative.
“The unexpected has happened in Chinhoyi as Mataruse narrowly won the right to represent the party in this year’s elections. After votes had been counted, Mataruse was in the lead with 676 votes, beating Chamisa’s favourite, Engineer Leslie Mhangwa who polled 646 votes. Sitting Chinhoyi Ward 8 Councillor, Mukudzei Chigumbura was a distant third with 368 votes,” said the source.
According to the source, ballots were cast across all 15 Wards that constitute the Chinhoyi constituency and CCC members were secretly told to vote for Mhangwa.
“During the voting day, members were being told that the president (Chamisa) no longer trusted Mataruse because of his links with the Sesedza Movement. People were told to vote for Mhangwa because he had been endorsed by Chamisa. However, people defied Chamisa’s directive and voted for Mataruse instead,” said the source.
The same source said that after Mataruse’s victory, there were fresh attempts by Chamisa to disqualify Mataruse on the basis that he had served two terms in parliament.
“We heard that Chamisa is pushing for the disqualification of all legislators who had served two terms in parliament. If that directive is adopted, then Mataruse and other legislators such as Tendai Biti, Murisi Zwizwai and others, would be disqualified,” added the source.
Meanwhile, the ZANU PF candidate in Chinhoyi constituency, Thomas Chidzomba said that he didn’t care who he would face from CCC as he was ready to trounce any opposition candidate in the impending elections slated for August this year. Mataruse said that residents of Chinhoyi had been deprived of meaningful development as the CCC legislator; Mataruse had neglected the constituency opting to spend much time at his surgeries.
