Zimbabwe's ruling party senior officials lose in primary polls

HARARE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Most of Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party heavy weights failed to win in primary polls held Sunday and Monday this week.

Among the party big wigs who fell by the way side are special advisor to president Emmerson Mnangagwa and war veterans association chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa, scholarships minister Christopher Mushowe and Industry and commerce minister Mike Bimha.

According to results announced by the party's national political commissar Engelbert Rugeje Wednesday night, a number of the party's politburo members also failed to win the ticket to represent the party in forthcoming elections set for mid-year.

Reports also say party chairperson and cabinet minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri lost in the primary polls.

Rugeje said the results were from at least 90 percent of the 210 constituencies.

"We have 22 females who made it. There are some constituencies where voting is still to be done, while in other areas polling is in progress and we will notify the nation as soon as we get the results," Rugeje said.

The primary polls were marred by irregularities that resulted in voting in some areas being delayed or nullified.

President Mnangagwa said the challenges experienced in the party's internal polls were part of efforts to entrench democracy in the party.

ZANU-PF will on Friday launch its 2018 election manifesto as it gears for the polls which Mnangagwa has promised will be free, fair and credible. Enditem