Elections to choose the Zanu-PF Mashonaland West substantive provincial chairman will be at district level and this will be  replicated in all future intra-party elections, including primary elections.

The elections to choose a substantive provincial chairman are set for Saturday this week. Former provincial vice chairman Cde Reuben Marumahoko was acting following the death of chairman Cde Robert Sikanyika last year. The system is intended to improve efficiency and access to all eligible voters who previously had to congregate at a central location.

Speaking after meeting all the four candidates vying for the position yesterday, Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Webster Shamu said the mechanism would strengthen the party's internal democratic process ahead of general elections expected this year.

Members to cast their votes will include district members, elected DCC members and the three wings of the province, that is, main, women's and youths' wings.

Cde Shamu said eligible voters include 13 DCC and five district members (chairman, deputy, secretary, treasurer and political commissar).

He said voting will take place at district level with all members of the provincial co-ordinating committee except Politburo, Central Committee and National Consultative Assembly members. Mashonaland West has 271 party districts and 4 449 people expected to vote.

"We want a system that accords everyone involved a fair chance and also to improve our intra-party democratic selection process.

"This means we will avoid such things as corruption, vote buying and imposition of candidates. Leaders must come from the people," he said.

Cde Shamu said the new system ensures that rival candidates co-exist while eliminating bussing of people following revelation that the party would provide transport to the voters.

He said each district would choose the venue were voting would be conducted. The Politburo verification teams would observe the elections.

"We want to make sure that the elections are conducted in the most peaceful manner and high levels of discipline.

"We also want to say no to violence so that we prove that Zanu-PF is the custodian of democratic purposes in Zimbabwe," he said. Results are expected to be collated at the provincial party office in Chinhoyi and announced the same day.

In an interview yesterday, the candidates said they were ready for the election and promised to unite the party in the province.

Cde Marumahoko said he would work on setting up structures from the grassroots level so that the party is on a sound footing come general elections.

Cde Moffat Marashwa promised to retain all seats lost to the MDC in the province while former chairman Cde Mafa said he would eliminate factionalism in the province.

Cde Mafa also hailed the new electoral system. Zvimba South legislator Cde Walter Chidakwa said he would provide leadership to the rolling out of national programmes such as indigenisation and economic empowerment.

He said he would bring efficiency and productivity in the farms and mines in Mashonaland West for the benefit of its communities.