Shyleen Mtandwa | The National People’s Party led by Joyce Mujuru yesterday held its inaugural elections for substantive office holders throughout the ten provinces in the country.
The much talked about tense elections saw a near return of the designed top six leadership of the party as was leaked to the media two months before. Preliminary results indicate that all of the six leaders except one who were circulated in the media ahead of elections were returned. Mujuru earned the President position unopposed and is set to be deputised by the pair of John Mvundura and Samuel Sipepa Nkomo in the two Vice President set up system.
Sipepa Nkomo has amassed a huge lead over bitter rival Cuthbert Ncube with one of the nine provinces that voted yet to publish its results. Mvundura is having a slight edge over fellow Manicaland member Retired Brigadier General Elliot Kasu.
Gift Nyandoro is also comfortably set to be the Secretary General ahead of Petronella Musarurwa and Hamadziripi Dube in a tightly contested race. Veteran Dzikamai Mavhaire has landed the National Chairman position after being endorsed by six out of the nine provinces that voted.
The Treasurer General of the new party is set to be Engineer Wilbert Mubaiwa who has managed to land six provinces ahead of Matabeleland rivals Bukhosi Ntutu and Moffat Ndou. Mubaiwa is the only one of the top six leaders who was initially tabled as one of the top six leaders. He snatched the seat which was in the plan set up for Esnath Bulayani from Bulawayo.
Bulawayo province could not proceed with its elections as violence erupted before start of elections when members argued over the voters roll. Presiding Officer Jealous Mawarire called off the elections after members beat each other up and blocked the start of the voting session.
The Metropolitan Province was strongly divided into two factions one behind Sipepa Nkomo and another behind Cuthbert Dube in the run up to the elections.
The party elections directorate would not immediately say what was to happen regards the failed voting in the province.