Knives out for Rugeje after top war vets lose Zanu PF elections

ZANU PF political commissar, Engelbert Rugeje is reportedly under enormous pressure to make urgent rule on hundreds of appeals filed by party candidates, who lost in the just-ended chaotic party primary elections.

The unfolding situation comes after the loosing ZANUPF gurus are demanding nullification of the results and a re-start of the process, claiming the primary elections held at the weekend were fraught with irregularities and could not be deemed as free and fair.

In defense of the alarming situation, Rugeje yesterday declined to comment on the issue, accusing the media of fuelling tension by prematurely publishing unofficial results before they were confirmed by his office.

“I will call you when I am ready. I won’t comment on anything before I announce officially, who won and who lost the primaries. It is my process and you have to wait,” he said.

However, it is alleged that since Monday, Rugeje’s office has reportedly been engulfed with complaints from various parts of the country, with some losing candidates claiming manipulation of the voters’ rolls, violence, vote-buying and stuffing of ballot boxes by rivals.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Zanu PF members, believed to be sympathetic to the party’s losing Harare South losing parliamentary aspirant, war vet Douglas Mahiya, yesterday invaded the party headquarters demonstrating against winning candidate, Tongai Mnangagwa, whom they accused of manipulating the voters’ roll to disadvantage his rival.

Other notable war veterans who lost include minister Oppah Muchinguri and Chris Mutsvangwa, special adviser to president Mnangagwa

Surprisingly, the ruling party activists threatened to vote opposition candidates in the upcoming elections if their demands for a re-run were ignored.

Tongai is believed to be related to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and was allegedly imposed in the constituency.

Mnangagwa has, however, described the internal polls as healthy.

newsday