Low BVR figures cause for concern Mzembi . . . Chadzamira returns vehicle
THE ZANU-PF provincial party leadership in Masvingo has expressed concern over the appallingly low figures of members, who have so far registered under the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) system.
The development comes amid calls for ruling party senior officials to intensify the ongoing voter mobilisation and registration campaign across the province.
Party members, who regard Masvingo as a “one-party state” under the unfettered dominance of ZANU-PF, have been pushing for a vigorous voter mobilisation campaign to make sure President Mugabe and the party win resoundingly in next year’s polls.
Preliminary indications show that slightly over 200 000 people have so far registered under BVR in Masvingo.
However, calls have been growing to intensify the programme, while expanding issuance of identification cards to enable prospective first-time voters across the province to register.
Masvingo has an estimated population of 1,4 million people.
Central Committee member and Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Walter Mzembi told a ZANU-PF Masvingo provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting on Monday that the leadership was not impressed with the small number of people who have so far registered under the BVR system. He exhorted senior ruling party officials in the province to embark on a massive and expansive voter mobilisation campaign across the province.
“The biggest task that lies ahead of us is to make sure more people register under BVR. We can only enjoy if we win next year’s polls, but I am concerned that our figures are very low,” he said.
“We need to move on the ground and SUSPENDED ZANU-PF Masvingo provincial chairman Cde Ezra Chadzamira has been forced to surrender a party vehicle that he was reportedly holding on to after being suspended for allegedly inciting tribal hatred and spreading gossip and lies, among a litany of other charges.
The new ZANU-PF leadership in Masvingo led by acting provincial chairman Cde Amasa Nhenjana had to rope in the police to recover the new party vehicle.
Cde Chadzamira’s political fortunes have taken a nosedive in the past few weeks after he was initially served with a prohibition order.
However, ZANU-PF National Political Commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere suspended Cde Chadzamira from his post as provincial chairman.
He is also among five party heavyweights from Masvingo, who have been recommended for expulsion from the ruling party for working with ousted Vice President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa to undermine President Mugabe.
move very fast, let’s go to the cells and encourage our people to register to vote so that we can deliver victory to President Mugabe and our party ZANU-PF.”
Cde Mzembi said the only way Masvingo Province can pay homage to President Mugabe was to ensure that the party wins convincingly.
“President Mugabe will be leading us in next year’s elections while we follow. Let us vote for President Mugabe in next
Cde Nhenjana yesterday confirmed that Cde Chadzamira had since surrendered a party vehicle that he was in possession of.
“We had to seek the assistance of the police to recover the vehicle from him as he was refusing to surrender it. We are also seeking to force him to surrender fuel that is in his possession for it is meant for party programmes,” he said.
Cde Nhenjana added: “I do not think it’s a good thing for him to refuse with party property because one day he would want to come back into the fold, so we expected him to cooperate and abide by decisions taken by the party.”
Addressing a ZANU-PF Masvingo provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting on Monday, where it emerged that Cde Chadzamira was refusing to surrender the ruling party vehicle, Central Committee member Dr Walter Mzembi vowed not to leave the province until the party vehicle was returned.
The Foreign Affairs Minister told the PCC meeting that Cde Chadzamira had no right to cling on to the party vehicle after his suspension.
“We cannot have a situation where
year’s elections to thank him for cleansing our party in Masvingo Province,” he said.
Some of the ruling party leaders at the meeting said there was need to further expand the programme by the Registrar-General’s Office to issue identification cards, particularly in remote rural areas where the majority did not have identification documents.
They said more people would only be able to register to vote if they were issued TWO policemen attached to the Minerals and Border Control Unit in Chiredzi have been arraigned before the courts facing charges of abuse of office and demanding bribes from cross-border traders.
The duo — Tenson Chipembere and Cleopas Nhamburo — appeared before a Chiredzi magistrate last week for demanding a bribe from Samuel Moyo to facilitate his impounded vehicle.
Prosecutor Mrs Chiedza Muhwandavaka told the court that on December 29 last year, Chipembere and Nhamburo, both policemen in Chiredzi impounded Moyo’s vehicle, which was carrying smuggled goods.
“On the 29th of December 2016 the complainant’s motor vehicle a Benz Sprinter registration number ABQ5610 towing trailer ACZ 3058 was coming from South Africa being driven by Dogen Patsikwa.
“The motor vehicle was carrying various grocery items when it was stopped by the two accused persons at Chisase Business Centre. Also in the company of accused person was Constable Tinashe Chapungu of Minerals and Border Control Unit,” Mrs Muhwandavaka said.
The State further alleged that the policemen ordered the driver to take the kombi to the police station since it was carrying undeclared goods.
“While at ZRP Chiredzi, Constable Tinashe Chapungu received $50 in his EcoCash account number 0774707323 from complainant’s EcoCash number 0772 270375, approval code pp161229.0147C00147.
“The complainant, Samuel Moyo, then phoned Constable Tinashe Chapungu instructing him to release this motor someone who has been suspended clings on to party assets like that. Never!”
The PCC had resolved to recommend the expulsion of Cde Mnangagwa from the ruling party, while elevating First Lady and ZANU-PF Women’s League secretary Dr Grace Mugabe to the post of Vice President to fill the women’s quota in the Presidency.
President Mugabe has since fired Cde Mnangagwa as the State’s Vice President.
with IDs.
ZANU-PF strongholds of Mwenezi and Chiredzi have so far registered fewer-than-expected voters under the BVR system. It is suspected that the majority of potential voters in these areas do not have IDs.
The ruling party is angling to retain all the 26 House of Assembly seats won in Masvingo in the 2013 harmonised elections.