Provincial Summaries
Bulawayo
Zimbabwe People First (People First) was visible on the ground setting up structures and
recruiting members. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was also observed on the ground
and was telling supporters that they were merging with People First, a development which
PDP leader, Tendai Biti confirmed when ZPP called him. The Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC-T) intra-party conflict continued with the ongoing stand-off between
supporters of Senator Matson Hlalo and Deputy Mayor Gift Banda unabated. Hlalo could
not be reached for comment, but Banda confirmed ill-will existed, though he claimed he
was on the receiving end of it.
Infighting in Zanu-PF also continued between supporters of Vice President Emmerson
Mnangagwa (Team Lacoste) and those aligned to The First Lady (Generation 40 [G40]).
Highlights:
On 15 January 2016, two MDC-T members verbally insulted one another and
almost exchanged blows at Glengarry Shopping Centre in Bulawayo East. The two
were accusing each other of belonging to opposing camps. They were later
restrained by a fellow party member.
On 30 January 2016, in a case of intra-party conflict within Zanu-PF, a war
veterans meeting for wards 10 and 11 in Entumbane/Emakhandeni scheduled to be
addressed by war veterans Minister, Chris Mutsvangwa, was abandoned after
reports that the meeting had not been sanctioned by party leadership.
On 31 January 2016, a meeting held at the war vets offices in Entumbane was
abandoned midway amid chaos as members started accusing each other of spying
for the various party factions. As physical fights became imminent chairperson
only named as Ncube stopped the meeting and promised to uproot factionalism.
Harare
Political parties were busy setting up structures in the communities. From 10 -15 January
2016, Zanu- PF were restructuring their cell structures in wards 3, 4, 11 and 12. The
process was conducted by the provincial chairperson and his executives. On the other
hand, MDC-T had structure auditing on 26 January 2016, in Waterfalls at the community
hall.
Highlights:
On 30 January 2016, there was violence in Glen View Ward 31 during a Zanu-PF
restructuring meeting. Youth leaders allegedly booted out the ward chairperson
and his son from the party. This followed violence that disrupted ward elections
to elect the Zanu-PF youth leadership. The two aspiring candidates fought over the
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