Celebrities

Sandra Ndebele Contesting As ZANU PF Councillor Stirs Controversy

Published

2 weeks ago

16/03/2023

Dumisani Gadyadzi

Sandra Ndebele, a popular musician and dancer, has announced her intention to run in the upcoming Zanu-PF primary elections, which will take place this weekend.

She aspires to be the ruling party’s aspiring councillor for Ward 20 Pelandaba Tshabalala (Bulawayo) in the upcoming harmonised general elections.

Despite having previously served as a women’s league leader in Bulawayo and as a representative for young women in Economic Development, as well as having endorsed Zanu-PF and its presidential candidate, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, her campaign to be a Zanu-PF councillor caught many people off guard.

Sandra Ndebele on the Balot Paper :
“Vote for DEVELOPMENT….” pic.twitter.com/4WFDCpLRIr
— ᗩl wᗩdᑌd_tᕼe sIᗰᑭ  (@_MakdShelby) March 15, 2023

Her political ambitions have elicited mixed reactions on social media, with some criticising her for joining Zanu-PF and entering politics.

Users on social media do not believe she is qualified to be a councillor or an MP. Netizens argued that she should have stayed in music instead of entering politics.

Some social media users have even mocked her, claiming that she believes her big nyash will help her win the elections.

Here are some of the responses:

@General Guttso;

Sandra uyu agotozokwanisa kuita debate mu parliament one day uyu….we are filling up pàrly nema dunderhead…imagine mike chimombe,Scott kupa,mugwadi,Sandra debating about our future in parly one day

@Senior Bachelor Zim

She is going to contest against the citizens but still expects the same citizens to buy her album.

@Enzo Munari Astly;

From upping her body looks to university and now upping her stature, if u can not beat them,they say join them.

@Portia Liamba:

How is it going to benefit the country by voting her, this is a disaster shame, this one should be contesting dancing competitions nje

@Bridget Pinkie Ndlovu

She knows where her bread is buttered…Focus wena, Sandra

In 2021, Norton legislator Temba Mliswa slammed Zanu-PF for allegedly capturing Ndebele after she was appointed Bulawayo representative for Young Women in Economic Development.

“Another dry, cut-and-paste job as Zanu-PF has appointed Sandra Ndebele as their Bulawayo representative for Young Women in Economic Development. However, the abiding idea behind the move makes the whole thing pitiful. It’s a clear scramble for popularity and youth support.

“The move exhibits a low regard for the Zimbabwean electorate’s mentality. People can now see beyond these platitudinous actions which seek to harness and transfer popularity from a different sphere into the party’s community of politics,” said Mliswa.

Interestingly, this week, it emerged that two owners of Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs Innocent Benza and Farai Jere are also set to contest in the Zanu-PF primary elections.

Benza who plays for and owns Herentals Football Club, is eying Mutasa Central constituency in Manicaland Province.

Jere, the president of CAPS United Football Club and the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, wants to contest the Murewa (Murehwa) West constituency in Mashonaland East Province on a Zanu-PF ticket in the upcoming general elections.