Zanu PF deny discord within their ranks

By Brilliant Pongo

Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has denied media reports about the alleged deep divisions within the Party with regards to the timing of elections. Responding to a report in the Newsday, Gumbo said:

“The party position is very clear. I don’t know how many times I should repeat this. Elections are on this year and reforms are not fundamental if people want elections. The Mutare congress last year made it clear that elections will be held this year. The Politburo also made it clear and the President also made it clear.”

Zanu PF has accused the media of being quick to fan the fires of the alleged divisions after Patrick Chinamasa, the Party’s Chief Negotiator in the SADC-facilitated talks expressed what his party said are his personal opinions with regards to elections. ‘Chinamasa’s opinion is not the party position and that should be made clear,” Gumbo said.

Gumbo said “COPAC has indicated that they will be through with collating all the data on the constitution by June or July and we expect that come September there should be a referendum. There are also falsehoods being peddled by certain media houses that SADC wants elections in 2013, however what SADC wants is for all outstanding issues to be dealt with and as we speak negotiators from the three parties in the GPA are trashing out these issues.”

ZANU PF has been calling for elections this year but the MDC (T) has been against an early poll demanding what it says are substantive reforms that will ensure a free and fair poll.

Gumbo took a swipe at the Prime Minister, “now Tsvangirai is saying elections should be held next year who is he? The President has the power to dissolve Parliament and call for elections. What I want to stress is that as a Party we will follow what is defined in the GPA.