The Sunday News
Tinomuda Chakanyuka, Senior Reporter
ZANU-PF Member of the National Assembly for Matobo South constituency Cde Soul Mahalima Ncube has come under fire for allegedly declaring himself the party’s candidate for next year’s Parliamentary elections.
The ruling party conducts primary elections to choose candidates who will represent it in the Parliamentary polls.
Although the legislator vehemently refutes the allegations, sources in the ruling party in Matobo South told Sunday News that the legislator has been warning aspiring candidates against challenging him.
The sources allege that Cde Ncube claims that as the party’s district chairperson, he is the automatic party candidate for the 2018 polls in the constituency.
“He has made it clear to everyone that he doesn’t want to be challenged. He claims that as the chairperson, he is the automatic candidate. That is totally against the party’s way of doing things,” claimed a source.
The MP is also alleged to have started campaigning in the constituency despite the party leadership having warned against early campaigns.
Cde Ncube refuted the allegations which he said were being peddled by his enemies who were jealous of his “successful” term in office. He said he welcomed anyone willing to go up against him in the party’s primaries but claimed that so far no one had shown interest in running for the ticket.
“Those are big lies from people who hate me. They’re jealous of my success. I’m not blocking anyone from contesting me. Anyone is free to challenge me. Besides it’s not my call, but the party’s, on who qualifies to contest primaries,” he said.
Added Cde Ncube, “So far it’s only me who has shown interest in contesting for office.”
The legislator claimed that the fact that there was no one else that has shown interest in the seat was evidence that the electorate was satisfied with his work and would want to retain him.
Cde Ncube also dismissed claims that he had already started campaigning accusing his detractors for mistaking his community work for campaign gimmicks.
“I stay with the community and I’m always on the ground working with people and for the people. I have spearheaded a number of projects here. I have used my own resources to construct Marinoha Clinic with villagers only contributing bricks and sand. That’s the work that my detractors take for campaigns,” he said.
@irielyan
