Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor

ZANU PF’s primary elections will be held next week after Monday’s Politburo meeting that will consider recommendations from the national election directorate regarding candidates willing to contest in the internal polls.

Briefing journalists at the party’s headquarters in Harare Friday morning, ZANU PF National Political Commissar, Dr Mike Bimha said security vetting process was completed and the national election directorate will finish its work this weekend to pave way for Politburo meeting on Monday.

Dr Bimha said, ‘‘We are happy as a party that we received an overwhelming response from members willing to participate in the elections. The security department finished its work, and today, the national election directorate will convene to look at the recommendations from other departments. We expect the process to be complete this weekend, and recommendations will be taken to the Politburo meeting Monday for consideration. After the Politburo meeting, primary elections will be held, I’m not sure if it’s Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.’’

Dr Bimha also warned that there is no room for violence and those found guilty will be disqualified, with the law expected to take its course.

He added, ‘‘I want to give a stern warning to our candidates in the primary elections that anyone found perpetrating violence will be disqualified as President Emmerson Mnangagwa has always said there is no room for violence. So imagine perpetrating violence towards your own party members and what more on the general elections? So these are the bad elements we don’t want to see in the party.’’

ZANU PF has completed its cell building and verification exercise with registers from the process set to be used as the voters roll for primary elections.