The election to choose the Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman will go ahead as scheduled on January 21 while modalities and dates of filling other vacant posts are being worked out.

Addressing the party provincial leadership yesterday, Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Webster Shamu, said other vacant posts would be filled through co-option from the current executive.

This, he said, was in line with the directive from the Politburo following findings by the national disciplinary committee, which absolved suspended chairman Cde John Mafa. The findings make Cde Mafa legible to contest in the forthcoming election.

"The Politburo gave a directive that you (province) should hold an election to choose a chairperson and the date has been set as January 21," said Cde Shamu. "So as the commissariat, we will be sending you the modalities on how the election will be conducted while we look at how we can fill other vacant posts."

Vacant posts in the executive include that of vice chairperson, political commissar and secretary for administration.There are four candidates vying for the chairmanship. These include Zvimba South legislator Cde Rueben Marumahoko, war veteran Cde Moffat Marashwa and Cde Mafa.

The meeting saw the house being split with some calling for the election to go ahead as planned while others wanted the province to focus on organising its grassroots structures ahead of the referendum and the subsequent election.

Others argued that that the term for the current executive was almost up making it imperative to maintain the status quo with Cde Marumahoko as the acting chairman.

This prompted the Cde Shamu to chip in and directed that the election should be held without fail as planned.Cde Shamu said the province should choose leaders who can work with people from all levels in the party.

He also resolved to set up a fund that would assist the party in running its programmes throughout the year.