THE ruling Zanu PF party has again roped in its controversial affiliate, Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), to co-ordinate campaign activities ahead of by-elections scheduled for December 9.
The by-elections were triggered by the recall of 15 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators and 17 councillors by self-proclaimed interim party secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu.
Despite protests from the CCC that Tshabangu is an “impostor” and that the position he claims to hold does not exist in the party, President Emmerson Mnangagwa went ahead and proclaimed the by-elections.
Critics claim that Tshabangu is a creation of FAZ to destabilise the opposition and give a second life to the ruling party candidates who lost in the August 23 and 24 polls.
With by-elections not subject to scrutiny by regional and international observers, they say the recalls are also meant to give Zanu PF a two-thirds majority it was denied by voters in the initial elections.
The CCC has indicated that it will not participate in polls caused by the “fraudulent recall” of its elected officials.
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Instead, the party is insisting on fresh polls supervised by Sadc, with the matter set for discussion at a Sadc Extra-ordinary Summit in Angola tomorrow.
FAZ, a shadowy organisation heavily linked to the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), spearheaded Mnangagwa’s re-election in the August 23 and 24 polls.
Several local, regional and international election observer missions flagged FAZ’s involvement in various electoral malpractices such as the intimidation of voters.
The observer missions, in their reports, said the polls failed to meet local, regional and international standards on the holding of credible, free and fair elections.
But Zanu PF defended FAZ’s campaign strategies, saying they were above board.
Yesterday, Zanu PF acting director for information, Farai Marapira confirmed FAZ’s involvement in the selection of candidates and the upcoming by-elections.
Zanu PF will hold its primary elections tomorrow ahead of the nomination court sitting on November 7.
“Yes, indeed, it is true,” Marapira said in a brief response to NewsDay.
FAZ president Kudakwashe Munsaka, who lost in the race to represent Binga North in the August elections, also confirmed that his organisation will be part of Zanu PF’s campaign machinery.
“I can confirm that we are part of the preparations for the elections,” Munsaka said.
“I have always said that we are an affiliate of Zanu PF and we will continue to be one. Whenever Zanu PF needs us, we will always be there to execute our duties.”
Previously, FAZ and Heritage Trust, a shadowy group with links to the army, were blamed for manipulating Zanu PF primaries and the country’s polls.
The involvement of FAZ in Zanu PF’s election campaigns has raised concerns, with analysts accusing the ruling party of plotting to rig the by-elections in its favour.
Political analyst Romeo Chasara said the invitation was a clear attempt by Zanu PF to rig the polls.
“FAZ is a known Zanu PF frontline group and its presence at the polls will only serve to intimidate voters and suppress dissent,” Chasara said.
In its preliminary report, the Sadc election observer mission said it was informed that the rural vote was compromised by alleged intimidation attributed to FAZ.
FAZ reportedly deployed its operatives to various wards and in 35 000 villages, where they coerced the electorate to vote Zanu PF.
Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust executive director Ignatious Sadziwa said FAZ played a key role in Zanu PF’s controversial victory.
“The intransigence and behaviour of Zanu PF is very strange and unbecoming. FAZ’s involvement in the just-ended harmonised general elections was very controversial and contentious,” Sadziwa said.
“This is the prime reason why most local and international election observer missions dismissed the election as a fraud. For Zanu PF to continue going to bed with this rogue outfit is startling.”