THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has spread
its tentacles to include a probe into vote-buying allegations raised by the
opposition MDC in the just-ended parliamentary by-elections.
MDC secretary-general Chalton Hwende, whose party has
accused the ruling Zanu PF of engaging in vote-buying activities, particularly
in Lupane East and Glen View South by-elections, said his party had been
invited to provide evidence to Zacc.
“We are happy that Zacc has shown interest in investigating
the allegations of vote-buying that have been the order of the day in the
recent by-elections. In Lupane East, ministers connived to release medicines
for campaign purposes and we raised these issues, but the Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission (Zec) did not act,” Hwende said.
He said he had handed over letters written by Zanu PF
political commissar and Defence deputy minister Victor Matemadanda to Health
minister Obadiah Moyo and the response showing a paper trail of abuse of power.
“Corruption also involves abuse of power. Using government
resources to buy votes and attain power is corruption and this becomes a litmus
test for Zacc on whether they are serious or not and we are prepared to give
them a chance,” he said.
In its final report on the Glen View South and Mangwe
by-elections, Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (Zesn) also raised concern
over vote-buying, accusing Zanu PF of electoral malpractices.
“However, other forms of malpractices were observed. In
Glen View South, Zesn was concerned with the timing of the drilling of 15
boreholes by the District Development Fund (DDF), which Zanu PF seemingly took
advantage of during its campaigns ahead of a by-election as the party was
observed officiating at some of the boreholes in the constituency,” the
electoral watchdog report read.
“DDF trucks carrying borehole rigs were observed moving in
convoys with vehicles carrying Zanu PF supporters in their full party regalia
heading for the borehole drilling sites. Zanu PF also distributed rice in the
constituency until a day before the election. This amounts to vote-buying or an
attempt to influence voting preferences with an effect to make the electoral
playing field uneven.”
Zesn called on the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to
investigate the allegations.
“Zesn implores the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to
investigate reports of vote-buying that were reported in the Glen View South
by-election, as well as in previous by-elections that were held post 2018
harmonised elections,” the Zesn report read in part. Newsday
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