ZANU PF on Wednesday barred a winning candidate in the recently-held Chinhoyi Ward 2 primary elections from filing her nomination papers, opting to field Ruth Chikukwa’s losing opponent.
Chikukwa, popularly known as “Boko Haram”, last Friday won the right to represent the ruling party in the upcoming March 26 local council by-elections but was surprisingly stopped from submitting her papers at the nomination court.
She polled 162 votes to beat perennial campaigner Stuart Yasini who tallied 99 votes, while Muriravanhu Makhakhi scrapped a paltry 6 votes.
However, Chikukwa was stopped in her tracks to file her papers just a day before the nomination court sat.
Speaking to a local paper, a dejected Chikukwa said she was unaware her name was removed from the candidates’ list and reasons for the move.
“I just heard that Tapera Mutovido (Makonde district coordinating committee (DCC) vice-chairperson) was the one who removed my name from the list and replaced me with Yasini whom l beat in the primary election,” she said.
“I asked why l was being removed from the list, but l never got anyone to satisfactorily answer me. Officials from the provincial office said it was a directive from above, but when l called Zanu PF headquarters they said they knew nothing. Honestly, l am hurt.”
Efforts by a local paper to get a comment from Mutovido were fruitless.
However, sources said Chikukwa was sidelined for indiscipline.
Chikukwa rose to infamy last year after instigating violence during a Makonde DCC meeting where Information Deputy Minister Kindness Paradza, had to be whisked away from the venue by anti-riot police.
