Langa explains reasons behind withdrawal from Insi...

Langa explains reasons behind withdrawal from Insiza South primary election re-run

Andrew Langa forced out of Zanu-PF's Insiza South rerun? - Bulawayo24 News — Andrew Langa

Zim Now Writer

Former Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Andrew Langa announced his reasons for withdrawing his candidature in Zanu PF primary election rerun which was set for April 22 in Insiza South.

Langa’s withdrawal therefore leaves Spare Sithole as the sole candidate to represent Zanu PF in the race for Member of Parliament in the upcoming general elections.

Langa had won the elections by 624 votes with 2,864 votes against his counterpart, Sithole, who garnered 2,240 votes.

According to sources, recently installed Insiza district Chief Dambisamahubo Maduna vouched for Sithole over Langa.

In a statement, Langa said the decision to withdraw from the rerun followed consultations between President Mnangagwa and traditional leaders in Insiza.

“After consultations with our party and state president, His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa regarding the primary election rerun in Insiza South constituency, I hereby make this formal announcement; That, I Andrew Langa have withdrawn from race in line with the wisdom provided by His Excellency to maintain party stability in the constituency and balance traditional leaders’ views on the constituency.

“That I will support the party candidate Honourable Spare Sithole in the coming elections in order for the party to retain the seat and we also work together to win votes for our President, Member of Parliament, and councillors.

“I call upon all those who were behind my candidature to accept my decision and work with the rest of the party members to achieve the goal of ensuring that Zanu PF wins the seat.

“I know that this may not be an easy decision for many but we need to accept it as it is in the interest of party cohesion and unity which has always been the backbone of our party,” he said.

In 2014, Langa, who was also the MP for Insiza North, was suspended as provincial chairman following allegations that he was aligned to then Vice President Joice Mujuru’s faction which was being accused of plotting to remove then President Robert Mugabe.

He was fired as the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture in 2015 and replaced by former journalist Makhosini Hlongwane.

In 2018, he lost the Insiza North parliamentary seat to Farai Taruvinga and was also arrested on allegations of corruption involving the 2014 Africa Union Region 5 Youth Games.

Sithole was then elected Zanu PF MP for Insiza South.