THE Nelson Chamisa-led MDC has justified its perennial poor
electoral performance in rural areas across the country, accusing Zanu PF of
using State resources, particularly food aid to manipulate rural voters.
The MDC performed badly at the weekend where its candidate,
Derick Charamba, was thumped by the Zanu PF candidate Clemence Chiduwa in the
Zaka East parliamentary by-election, with the ruling party candidate garnering
7 119 votes against the MDC’s paltry 1 518.
Zaka East was forced into a by-election after the death of
Caston Gumbwanda (Zanu PF) in June this year.
Zanu PF also clinched the Lupane by-election in August, as
well as two council by-elections, but lost the urban Glen View seat to the MDC,
continuing with its dominance in rural constituencies that have formed the
backbone of its rule since independence.
With the economic hardships the country is facing under
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, observers had hoped the MDC would turn the heat
on the ruling party and grab anything on offer.
The poor electoral show by the opposition party has left
many questions on its ability to turn the tables on Zanu PF in the 2023
elections.
But MDC secretary for elections Jacob Mafume said the party
was planning to roll out educational programmes before the 2023 polls to
educate rural voters so that they avoid being manipulated by Zanu PF.
He said it was the manipulation of the rural people by the
Zanu PF-led government that was creating such voting patterns.
“They (rural voters) are under siege economically, the
headmen are chief whips of Zanu PF and the villages are being threatened that if
they vote for the opposition, the will be denied food handouts,” Mafume said.
“There is no food in the rural areas, no money, the people
rely on government and donor handouts which they are made to believe are coming
from Zanu PF.”
Mafume said the opposition party has identified the
manipulation patterns and will educate the rural folk, create alternatives,
delink State process from political party processes and come 2023, the
opposition will be able to reverse the voting patterns. Newsday
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