ZIMBABWE’S political race has gone into overdrive with the ruling Zanu PF, main opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), MDC Alliance and several other parties successfully filing their papers at the Nomination Courts sitting around the country.

The nominations were, however, shrouded by controversy as the main political parties battled disgruntled members.

The ruling Zanu PF held its primary elections that had to be settled by re-runs in some constituencies and wards while the CCC battled with double candidates.

Observers yesterday blamed the CCC candidate selection process and the press conference where more than one candidate was announced for causing the confusion at the Nomination Court.

Zanu PF also had challenges, with many candidates being replaced at the last minute and losing candidates filing as independents.

The opposition party also suffered from double candidates with CCC spokesperson Fadzai Mahere yesterday accusing Zanu PF of funding people to file their papers under their party name.

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Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Mahere said the CCC had unearthed several cases of forgery and fraud where some people filed their papers as their candidates.

“We have unearthed a sting operation where Zanu PF has been paying some people to pose as our candidates and we are going to take corrective measures to address this problem,” Mahere said.

She also accused Zanu PF of allegedly forging signatures and the party logo, which is Chamisa’s face, adding that the CCC will table its grievances according to the Electoral Act. “They have tried to manipulate our candidate selection process and when that failed, they are resorting to use of fraudulent means to derail our movement,” Mahere said.

However, Norton independent candidate Temba Mliswa said individuals, who are unaligned to any political parties, would make a huge influence in the forthcoming elections.

In an interview after filing his papers in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West, on Wednesday, Mliswa said: “We are going to see at least 20 independent MPs coming into Parliament riding from the confusion in Zanu PF and CCC but this could be a welcome development for our politics.

“We were not going to have the PVO (Private Voluntary Organisation) Bill and the Patriot Bill if we had a strong opposition and what we need is a voice against all the repressions we are facing as a country”.

Former mines and mining development minister Walter Chidhakwa also said independent candidates would have a say in the election. “What will matter is not about the political parties but what the people have done for their communities. We will see a lot of shocks after the election,” he said.

However, academic Richard Mahomva sees the shifting of political power as a shifting of sands and internal plurality.

“It is clear that Zimbabweans in both Zanu PF and opposition parties are no longer fascinated by political superstars and posturing. Zimbabweans want politicians who deliver on daily aspirations,” he said.

“The era of political celebrities is over. This election is immune from redundancy. It marks a rejuvenation of our democratic landscape and repositions institutional values to the centre and decentres the superficiality of celebrities across the political divide. The era of rhetoric and hallow slogans is under threat. Bread and butter politics is the future of our democracy,” he said.

Political analyst Ibbo Mandza said politics in Zimbabwe has become employment and a way to feed.

“It’s all about politics as more than ever becoming a livelihood, almost literally, it’s now their time to eat,” he said.