By Shami Makombe
NEWLY elected Zanu PF chairman for Matebeleland South province Mangaliso Ndlovu is in no-nonsense mood and wants to make sure the ruling party wins all seats in the March 26 by-elections.
The provincial executive met at the offices in Gwanda where candidates willing to participate in the local ward and Parliamentary constituency elections submitted their CVs.
“People have submitted their CVs and we will contest in all the vacant seats available,” said the youthful Bulilima East MP, who also serves in Government as Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
“The by-elections will be an indication of how we are likely to perform so that we take corrective measures well ahead. This is a very important exercise because it measures the appetite that our structures have.”
The ruling party will conduct primary elections this Thursday to come up with candidates for the by-elections slated for the 26th of March this year.
Matabeleland South province has seven vacant council seats.
During deliberations on the state of the party and the upcoming by-elections, the new provincial executive resolved to improve the infrastructure at the party’s headquarters and to also take care of the debts left by the previous administration.
Ndlovu say they are determined to change the outlook of the provincial offices and the new members have already pledged to offset the debt of ZW$400 000 owed to various service providers.
“If you can look at our offices you can’t say these are offices of a ruling party, we have made decisions to make sure we refurbish this and a loan plan to urgently start constructing our offices.
“We also inherited debts totalling to ZWL$400 000 and I am happy to say that we have already received pledges to that will cater for that. We want to make sure that this province feels the presence of the party,” said Ndlovu.