Norton by-election is win or war – Mnangagwa

By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday claimed President Robert Mugabe had tasked him to ensure Zanu PF won the Norton by-election “at all costs”.

Mnangagwa was Mugabe’s chief election agent and strategist during the 2008 presidential runoff for which Zanu PF campaigned on the slogan, “June 27—Win or War!”

The run-off was held because the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) leader and presidential candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, beat Mugabe in the March 2008 first round but failed to get enough votes to form a government on his own, according to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

The Zanu PF runoff campaign was characterised by widespread militarised violence which resulted in at least 400 opposition supporters being killed.

Mnangagwa said the by-election was a “must-win” as he addressed ruling party supporters in Norton to boost support for the Zanu PF candidate, Ronald Chindedza, who will contest against Temba Mliswa who is running as an independent, and David Choga of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA).

He discouraged the Norton electorate from supporting a non-Zanu PF candidate, insinuating that he would not get State support.

“You should vote for the rulers, not for the ruled. Vote to be part of the rulers, not the ruled. Even if you are asleep and you dream of Zimbabwe under another government, which is not Zanu PF, you should wake up, brew beer and ask your ancestors why they have forsaken you,” said Mnangagwa.

Zanu PF leaders have been doling out housing stands and other gifts to the constituency in what the opposition has described as vote buying.

The vice president ordered the Local Government minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, to remove MDC-T councillors from the Norton town council, accusing them of corruption.

He boasted that Kasukuwere was a militant minister and efficient task taker.

“We have a fearless boy (Kasukuwere), who, if you set him on someone, you go to bed peacefully because you know he will carry out the task. He will deal with those corrupt MDC-T councillors,” he said.

Human rights defenders and the opposition have in the past accused Kasukuwere, a former intelligence operative, of ruthlessness and a well-orchestrated plot to weaken MDC-T dominated local authorities.

Zanu PF has a comfortable majority in parliament after MDC-T fired numerous renegade lawmakers who broke away to form the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and boycotted by-elections.

However, a lot is at stake in the Norton by-election because Mliswa is a former senior Zanu PF whose victory would embarrass the ruling party.

Zanu PF and the police are being accused of orchestrating violence against opposition supporters in Norton. Nehanda Radio