Chief Urges Zanu (PF) Leaders To Use Indigenisation Policy To Buy Votes
Masvingo, November 26, 2012 – The President of the Chief’s Council, Chief
Fortune Charumbira has ordered traditional leaders and Zanu (PF) leadership
here to buy votes from villagers using funds acquired from the
indigenisation programme’s community ownership scheme so that President
Robert Mugabe retains power in next year’s elections.
Speaking during a Zanu (PF) meeting for the community ownership scheme at
the Civic Centre over the weekend, Chief Charumbira said: “The wealth and
funds coming from these big companies should be used to appease and lure
back our supporters. We should go there and drill boreholes, repair roads,
clinics and other infrastructure so that we will win the hearts of the
people to support us in the forth coming polls.”
Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Saviour Kasukuwere and
Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo attended the chief’s meeting.
The meeting was held to prepare for the launch of the community ownership
scheme in Masvingo to be addressed by President Robert Mugabe. Foreign owned
companies operating in the province have been forced to raise $10 million
for the scheme.
“We are talking here of huge amounts of money and we can wisely use it to
our advantage in elections. We need to make sure that we win the elections
and be a one party state again by putting that money directly to the people
to support us,” he said.
Charumbira lambasted Zanu (PF) leaders in Masvingo and warned them to stop
factionalism ahead of the elections.
“Zanu PF her is a laughing stock, we are always fighting each other along
factional lines for selfish reasons while we are losing support.
We should stop that now and focus our attention on retaining our lost
support so that we win elections and now that we have this money from the
scheme we have an advantage,” Charumbira said.
Companies that had been targeted to bank roll Zanu (PF) campaign under the
guise of contributing to communities in the province include, giant sugar
producers, Tongaat Hulett, Rio Tinto’s Renco gold mine, Lithium giant Bikita
minerals mine, Murowa diamonds mine and Save valley conservancies still
owned by white operators.
Zanu (PF) has since launched the Presidential inputs scheme, yet another
programme viewed by critics as a vote buying strategy ahead of next year’s
break or make general elections.