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Chinhoyi – Makonde legislator and ZANU PF District Coordinator, Kindness Paradza’s popularity among party members has rattled his opponents for the provincial chairmanship post for Mashonaland West who have resorted to a smear campaign against him.
During a recent party’s provincial coordinating meeting at the Chinhoyi University of Technology, some hordes of demonstrators were reportedly bused by outgoing Provincial Youth Chairperson and Mhangura Member of Parliament Precious Masango to demonstrate against Paradza on trumped-up allegations in an attempt to have him disqualified from the provincial elections.
“The demos were strategically organised to have Paradza disqualified after his opponents realized he is popular with the electorate and they are trying to have him disqualified. That won’t work as these people are only putting the name of the party and the name of the president into disrepute by their behaviour. The party has laid down procedures of filing complaints,” said Never Kurera, a district member who witnessed the demonstrators arriving in a bus and others in various cars.
Some demonstrators claimed that Paradza failed to attend a meeting in Mhangura which was scheduled an hour before the PCC meeting in Chinhoyi over a disputed district structure.
The demonstrators who arrived at the venue where Christopher Mutsvangwa, the newly appointed party spokesperson and Politburo member was guest of honour, had placards denouncing Paradza.
Philip Chiyangwa, a central committee member had to direct the party security officials to investigate the cause of the demo.
Chiyangwa, a former provincial chairman who was just beginning to address the meeting handed back the microphone to acting provincial chairperson Abiel Mujeri and said he never encountered such indiscipline in the party when he was at the provincial helm.
The meeting continued with the demonstrators waiting at the entrance with Mutsvangwa calling for discipline in the party.
Mhangura MP, Precious Masango who is also alleged to be supporting Musengi denied busing the demonstrators from Mhangura.
“What I know is that Paradza had promised to have a meeting with these people in Mhangura at 9 am but failed to pitch up. The people who were waiting for him followed him to the PCC meeting. I’m not involved in these squabbles,” she said.
Mutsvangwa said the incident was not tolerated in the party where real party members who support President Mnangagwa are disciplined and follow party procedure in filing complaints.
“It’s an unfortunate incident. As a party, we don’t condone such behaviour. We have procedures. If one needs redress, I hope the Minister of State will help us to get to the bottom of the matter,” he said.
Paradza said this proved that some of his opponents are afraid of losing in the forthcoming internal party elections.
He said the PCC meeting was meant to receive candidates’ applications for various positions in the forthcoming party provincial elections to be held this month.