HARARE – Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) aspiring candidate for Norton Samuel Matemere has been accused of bribery and vote buying in attempts to influence nomination in his bid to secure a ticket to represent the party in national elections expected not later than August this year.

The politician has since rubbished the claims saying these were the works of party rivals seeking to soil his name.

CCC is in the middle of an unprecedented candidate selection exercise meant to draw a list of candidates to represent the party based on community popularity.

The process, run by the so-christened Candidate Independent Selection Panel (CISP) commissioners, is a departure from primary elections that the party has used in past polls.

However, as the party nears completion of the process, Matemere has been fingered in attempts to influence the Norton process in his favour.

A named top party official superintending over the process has also been accused of colluding with some officials running the process so he could name Matemere as party choice for the poll.

“Matemere has paid rowdy individuals, some of whom are non-Norton residents, to be feature during the community consensus process so that when he presents his manifesto during the caucus, they scream his name and present an impression he is the popular choice,” a party source said.

Matemere is also accused of hiring party official Ralph Magunje to bribe some commissioners running the painstaking process to name him as the people’s choice.

In leaked text messages obtained by this publication, Matemere’s “hired” supporters are demanding US$1,000 so they could be part of the scheme.

Reached for comment, Matemere dismissed the claims which he said were fabricated so as to tarnish his name ahead of the process.

“These are false allegations. I am actually shocked over these allegations.

“It’s fake news, some candidates are trying to soil my image.

“In fact, we are not even allowed as candidates by the party to discuss political issues pertaining to our party. I don’t know who is manufacturing these lies,” said Matemere.

Matemere added: “It’s a counter strategy that if I am announced winner, they will raise such issues.

“I will however not be deterred from campaigning by these falsehoods.

“If I lose, I don’t lose my life, I just lose a contest. Right now, I have US$6 dollars in my pocket.

“This process has been going on for almost a month and I’ve been financially drained.

“So, I am surprised where these allegations that I will fork US$1,000 are coming from,” he said.

Matemere was MDC Alliance (now CCC) candidate for 2018.

He lost to sitting independent lawmaker Temba Mliswa.

Magunje also denied the claims, saying CISP was operated by independent commissioners saying he had no control over the panel.

“Firstly, our candidature systems are community based and are being conducted by an independent commission or body and that makes the bribery allegations difficult to pinpoint unless you have specific pointers,” he said.