‘Nothing amiss for Zanu-PF members to produce BVR slips’

THERE is no law making it an offence for people within the same party to ask for Biometric Voters Registration (BVR) slips during cell registration from a fellow party member, a senior ZANU-PF official has said.

ZANU-PF Manicaland provincial chairperson, Cde Mike Madiro made the remarks to address an issue in which members were unsure whether it was legal or otherwise for a fellow party member to request another member to show them their voter registration slip before they could do cell registration.

Only people registered to vote can also register for cell voting.

“I have never come across any piece of legislation, which says it is a crime to ask for such slips. It is not an offence,” he said.

His sentiments were also echoed by Buhera West legislator, Cde Oliver Mandipaka who weighed in saying it was not a criminal offence for any ZANU-PF member to ask for BVR slips from another party member.

Cde Mandipaka said he had done research, which showed that no piece of legislation criminalised asking for such slips especially when it was done within the context of ZANU-PF business.

“It carries no offence when it is done within the context of the party,” he said

He was part of the ZANU-PF members attending a provincial executive co-ordinating (PEC) meeting held on Sunday in Mutare where various issues including cell registration exercise were discussed.

On the other hand, Cde Madiro also warned some senior party members especially those in the Central Committee to desist from ‘playing village politics’.

“I would like them to rise above village politics. We are the ones who run the province. We appeal to you to rise above village politics and take your positions as Central Committee members,” he said.

Cde Madiro urged ZANU-PF members from Manicaland to act responsibly and refrain from fuelling squabbles within the party.

“Where we err as your leaders, call and tell us that we have done wrong. Let us not have squabbles and we should know our respective responsibilities.

“If we fail to do so, we will not move on as a province. Our national chairperson comes from this province and she should take pride from us as a province.

“We appeal to you to be organised,” he said.

Meanwhile, Manicaland province political commissar, Cde Gift Kagweda said they were happy with the progress in the party’s ongoing cell registration exercise which he said was going on well with most of the districts having been covered as of Tuesday this week.

He said: “The registration exercise currently underway is progressing well in Manicaland province.

“It is progressing well especially in areas where information about cell registration was propagated well.’’