No amount of intimidation can stop Gutu East Zanu PF supporters, George Vhengere’s camp to be precise, as the team continues to campaign for him despite numerous warnings from the party to accept the party’s decision of disqualifying him in spite of him being the winner in the just ended party primary elections.
Vhengere contested and won the primaries against the party’s ‘favorite’ candidate Benjamin Ganyiwa who was declared as the winner and Zanu PF Gutu East’s candidate for the upcoming August 23, 2023 harmonised elections.
In a bid to tone down the losing candidates who had grievances against the Forever Associates of Zimbabwe (FAZ) controlled party primary elections, the party started by banning WhatsApp groups especially those with losing candidates who were accused of fanning Bhora Musango but Vhengere’s group is still active and vibrant with more than 500 participants who are rallying behind him.
The Party went on to contact healing programmes in wards and constituencies declaring winning candidates and urging the losers to support those who will represent the party in the election.
Masvingo Provincial Youth League convened a press conference in which they warned all losing candidates to accept the outcome of the politburo saying they would not tolerate anyone who want to undermine the authorities and go against the outcomes of the primary elections.
As if that was not enough, during President Mnangagwa’s visit to Masvingo last week where he had a rally guised as meeting first time voters, the provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa told Mnangagwa that the province was grappling with threats of Bhora Musango mainly from Mwenezi west and Gutu East.
However, all the threats seem not to move Vhengere’s supporters who are determined to defend their vote a few days before nomination court and ‘imposition’ of Ganyiwa is proving to be a sore shoe for Zanu PF provincial bigwigs who are being humiliated on social media and on the ground.
Recently, three meetings were abandoned in Gutu East after two rival camps clashed where the incumbent MP for Gutu north who is now vying for women’s quota had gone with Ganyiwa to address suppoters.
Sources said Vhengere’s people started singing and brought placards in which they were denouncing imposition of candidates saying this time they won’t be cowed down.
“Two meetings at Makudo and Chinyika business centers were abandoned on Sunday (June 11) after Vhengere and Ganyiwa’s people clashed in the presence of Deputy Minister Yeukai Simbanegavi who had come with Ganyiwa to address people. They had flyers written ‘Gutu East Yaramba Mudzimikrwa’, Respect our rights, and respect our voice. The third one was abandoned again at Bhasera over the same issue,” said the source
The source further said 18 people from Vhengere’s camp were later arrested and were remanded out of custody for disrupting meetings.
Now the camp is in the habit of humiliating the leadership in their WhatsApp group titled Gutu East 2023 ED Pfee.
The group has some top leaders including secretary for Legal Affairs Paul Mangwana, Gutu South MP Pupurai Togarepi, the provincial chairperson Mavhenyengwa among others.
In leaked chats from the group, one participant accused Simbanegavi of urinating on the voters who elected her to be where she is now.
“Simbanegavi tisu takakuisa ipapo pauri. Waive usina chinhu iwe maGutu umu ungoriwo svari zvake ndobva tamhanya newe tikakusimudzira semunhu wemukadzi kuti uendewo pamusoro
Nhasi wave padenga manje wakuwetera isu tiripasi, Imhosva here kukusimudzira mumusangano wedu weZANU PF???, Hondo yawatanga nesu iyi unoihwina here nhai Simbanegavi????,Pasi nekuuraya musangano, Pamberi na Baba Mnangagwa, Pamberi naGeorge Vhengere, PASI NEIMPOSITION,” said the participant
Another participant questioned, can a father give his child a snake after asking for a fish, are we not important in the party to the extent that our choices are ignored, we voted for A but we are being given B as our choice.
“Ko isu hatina kukosha here zvekuti tinovhotera A asi topihwa B. Kana tisina basa mumusangano weZANU PF vakuru tiudzei. Chairman Mavhenyengwa, baba vaMatuke titomboriwo vana venyu here mumusangano nekuti mwana akakumbira hove hakuna baba vakakwana vanomupa nyoka.
“Masvingo leadership, Gutu East tiri vana venyu here? Pamwe makatotirasa zvenyu kare” said one participant.
Others are saying they do not want Ganyiwa because he paid the incumbent Bertitha Chikwama who they accuse of being corrupt and vowed to vote for opposition instead of Ganyiwa.
“We cannot vote for Ganyiwa, he is Chikwama’s proxy, Chikwama is very corrupt and if we vote for Ganyiwa we will suffer for the next five years,” said another participant.
When contacted for comment on the on goings in Gutu East, Zanu PF provincial spokesperson Pepukai Chiwewe said Vhengere’s supporters were wasting their time as the party had already decided that Ganyiwa is the best candidate.
“It is just a waste of time, the party decided that Ganyiwa will represent the party, so anyone who thinks will overturn that is not serious. The President was told about that issue when he came here and he is aware of what is going on there,” said Chiwewe.
He went on to urge party members in Gutu to support the candidate who was recommended by the party saying the primary elections were already past and the party should focus on mobilizing supporters for the main election.
Source TellZim
