ZANU PF is not losing sleep over the country’s opposition parties ahead of crunch elections this year, a junior minister has boasted, dismissing the ruling party’s rivals as hopeless dreamers.

Addressing villagers in Silobela recently, Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen Ncube, said he was confident President Emmerson Mnangagwa would romp to victory in elections expected in July this year.

“We are not losing sleep,” said Ncube, a top Mnangagwa loyalist.

“We don’t have a problem with those who are dreaming about ruling this country. It is only a dream.

“Zanu PF is not threatened by opposition parties and we are solidly behind President Mnangagwa.”

The opposition has failed to establish a single united front to take on Zanu PF with the various parties forming three main coalitions.

One group is led by former vice president Joice Mujuru, while another coalition rallies behind ex-energy minister Elton Mangoma.

The third group, MDC Alliance, had backed former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai who died last Wednesday after a long battle against colon cancer.

Ncube said, following the ouster of long-term ruler Robert Mugabe last November, “Zanu PF is now stronger than ever.”

He added; “President Mnangagwa and Mugabe had been together for 43 years. With Mnangagwa being a special advisor for all that time.

“He was trained in intelligence and counter intelligence and surveillance at the age of 18 in Egypt. He was arrested for his political activities but escaped the hangman’s noose because of his age.

“For all that time, he was loyal to Mugabe. When marujata (Grace Mugabe) was married by the former President she was the one who misled Mugabe to turn against President Mnangagwa.

“We decided to give the baton stick to a deserving candidate after Mugabe and that person is President Mnangagwa who was next in line.

“It was inconceivable for Mugabe to go the way of former leader Ndabaningi Sithole after having spent 37 years at the helm. We decided to retire him after his service.”