Opposition party, People’s Unity Party (PUP) says it is undeterred by Zanu-PF’s threats to silence its scheduled 27 August congress in Makoni South Constituency which will coincide with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s expected visit to the area.
The recently formed party has been making inroads ahead of next year’s highly anticipated elections.
PUP President, Herbet Chamuka, told 263Chat that he received information that his party’s elective congress will likely be banned due to Mnangagwa’s visit on 26 August.
“We have received important information from there that Zanu-PF leader, Mr Mnangagwa will have a gathering there on the 26th of August. Since it is a congress launch, our party will start movements on the 25th of August hence his presence there will have a negative effect on our preparations.
Chamuka said his party is concerned that Zanu-PF supporters will likely cause havoc, as they allegedly did in March this year, when they clashed with Nelson Chamisa’s supporters in Kwekwe, leading to the death of one opposition member.
However, a defiant Chamuka said he is not giving up and the congress will go ahead as planned.
“As the PUP president, I say we will not change our venue because of Zanu-PF’s presence. We are encouraging both Zanu-PF and PuP to be disciplined and to have the dignity to respect human rights and the Zimbabwe constitution to avoid disrupting people’s lives,” he said.
Chamuka said he is banking on the Makoni South seat in 2023 as both the opposition and ruling party representatives have failed in the past to develop the area.
“We are looking forward to winning in this area because they are complaining that since Zanu-PF won, there’s been no development, MDC won since Pishai Muchauraya and no development took place, Mandi Chimene from Zanu-PF as well and still no development.
“We have already launched big projects to give people food and help in that Makoni South area. so we greatly encourage Zanu supporters to behave because you cannot force people to like you,” Chamuka said.
