In a strange turn of events characteristic of the shambolic Zanu PF primary elections, Bright Matonga won in Mhondoro Ngezi Ward 5 without even submitting a CV to contest.
Matonga polled 332 votes whilst his closest challenge Mukhuhlani had 186, Chimedza 176, Kazembe 55, Mabika 23, Nhidza 31 and Midzi 78.
The strange result occurred after Mashonaland West Provincial Chairman Ziyambi Ziyambi allegedly refused to submit Matonga’s application to the higher office.
“Politics is such an interesting game! I wasn’t taking part in Zanu PF Primary elections in Mhondoro Ngezi because my CV was never submitted to the national commissariat department by Ziyambi Ziyambi, the provincial chairman.
“Then Ward 5 did the unusual and voted for me instead!! They just wrote my name on ballot papers in protest,” he said.
Matonga, however, stated that he would still rally behind the constituency’s winning candidate.
“As a matter of principle, political maturity and wisdom, l will be the campaign manager for the winning candidate!! No bhora musango on my part.
“When people vote for you when you not even a candidate, it shows something! In my humble submission, l saw it wise to support whoever becomes the eventual winner, for the sake of the party! We have 11 wards that were deprived of the opportunity to choose their rightful candidate,” said Matonga.
Despite Matonga’s claims that he had been sabotaged by Ziyambi the official position by the party is that he was disqualified because he only returned recently from expulsion.
Matonga was previously expelled from Zanu PF on accusations of being part of former Vice President Joyce Mujuru’s Gamatox faction which was accused of planning to usurp power from the former President Robert Mugabe.-Openparly
