Amasa Nhenjana
Upenyu Chaota
BIKITA – As political temperatures become hotter ahead of the Bikita West by-election, Zanu PF Masvingo acting provincial chairperson, Amasa Nhenjana yesterday lashed out at village heads who are snubbing Zanu PF meetings while showing up at opposition ZimPF rallies.
A fuming Nhenjana could not hide his irritation after a meeting he was addressing at Hozvi Primary School, ward 10, was attended by a mere four out of the ward’s 21 village heads despite calculated efforts to coerce traditional leaders to marshal their subjects to Zanu PF gatherings.
The many village heads who did not show up at the Zanu PF rally are allegedly controlled by Sign Mukanganwi, the ward’s councillor whom Nhenjana pronounced fired at the same rally for allegedly harbouring ZimPF sympathies.
“There is a total of 21 village heads in this area but we only have four here. Where are the other 17? This is the kind of behaviour we do not tolerate at all. Village heads should be working to mobilise people to rally behind Zanu PF.
“How will they be able to do that if they don’t attend rallies? The elections are close so it’s not about liking Chabaya or not, it’s about voting for Zanu PF,” thundered Nhenjana.
In his address, provincial war veterans chairperson, Tendeukai Chinooneka pleaded with women to vote for ‘one of their own’, referring to the Zanu PF candidate Beauty Chabaya.
“Don’t be fooled that war veterans have left Zanu PF. We will never leave Zanu PF. If we die, our ghosts will always be Zanu PF. There are some war veterans who have lost the way but as for us, we are Zanu PF to the bone. Tinobava muZanu PF tichienda kupi?” said Chinooneka.
The by-election will be held on January 21, 2017 with a total of six candidates including Kudakwashe Gopo of ZimPF and independents; Innocent Muzvimbiri and Heya Shoko.news