MUTARE- The opposition Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) has accused ZANU PF functionaries in Chimanimani of threatening villagers with another tropical cyclone should the ruling party lose the forthcoming Ward 16 by-election set for March 14.
MDC Manicaland spokesperson, David Panganai accused the ruling party of adopting scare tactics chief among them, threats that another Cyclone will hit the area if they don’t vote for ZANU PF.
“People are being frog marched to meetings and gatherings to meet the MP Joshua Sacco who deserted them at the time of need for his safety,” said Panganai.
To counter the threats and intimidation tactics, the MDC said it has deployed its provincial youth leadership led by one Kelvin Kambiro youth chair, Munyaradzi Rimbi youth secretary, and organizing secretary Cloud Nengomasha for a door to door campaign.
Panganai said the youth team discovered that some villagers were being denied access to food aid on suspicion of supporting the opposition political party.
“We have a team on the ground led by the youth chair Kelvin Kambiro who spent the just weekend interacting with locals could only be shocked and felt sorry on hearing frightening experiences people went through at the hands of cyclone Idai which was made worse by a government that only remembers citizens come election time.
“Our team spoke to the people on the ground who narrated how they were being denied aid food or clothing if they were known or suspected MDC supporters, in short ZANU PF is manipulating the locals’ vulnerability to further its cause.
“To make matters worse, this time they are coming with threats of a return of Cyclone Idai if people vote an MDC candidate, while relief food and basics are still being distributed at rallies, where state security organs are being used to instill fear into voters,” said Panganai.
Panganai expressed confidence that despite these challenges the opposition party will wrestle the vacant seat out of the hands of ZANU PF.
ZANU PF will be looking to retain the seat which fell vacant following the death of Tendai Nyabaya who collapsed at the party annual conference and died at Parirenyatwa group of hospitals in December last year.
