Tichaona Sithole

TellZim Reporter

The People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC) suffered a heavy blow in Masvingo after National People’s Party (NPP) national executive member, Tichaona Sithole resigned from the party which he accuses of lacking direction.
The NPP, which is led by Joice Mujuru, who is also the PRC’s presidential candidate, is a critical player in the coalition of opposition political parties.
In a letter dated July 03, 2018, Sithole notifies the party of his resignation from both the national executive as well as from the party altogether.
When contacted for comment, Sithole said he resigned because the leadership of the party was ‘inept and directionless’.
NPP national spokesperson, Jeffryson Chitando rubbished Sithole’s resignation, saying it made no difference to the party because he had stopped cooperating a long time back.
“It is of no consequence to us because he had stopped being involved in party activities a long time ago. He was no longer attending even the most important meetings of the party so we say to him go well,” said Chitando.politics

Chamisa with Matiashe last week

Courage Dutiro

CHIMANIMANI – Addressing a fully subscribed rally held at Nhedziwa growth point last week Thursday, MDC Alliance presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa congratulated in advance the aspiring parliamentary candidate for Chimanimani West, Canaan Matiashe whom he said was assured of victory come July 30.
The MDC Alliance leader told his supporters that he wanted to congratulate Matiashe in advance because he had already won the upcoming general election.
“If you fail to be the Member of Parliament (MP) for this constituency Matiashe, it would not be an election because as I see, you have already won the election, let me congratulate you,” said Chamisa.
Alliance’s presidential candidate proved that he had great hopes of winning the forthcoming elections, telling the crowd that he would want to see Matiashe in parliament and also at the State House.
“See you in parliament and also at the inauguration at State House, God bless you,” said the MDC Alliance leader.
Chamisa described the MDC Alliance parliamentary candidate as a hardworking person who had people at heart. He also praised Matiashe for the ambulance that he donated to the constituency.
The MDC Alliance leader also urged the crowd to support Matiashe, saying he was a person who had a vision of developing the constituency.politics

Cllr Moyo (left) looks on as Zanu PF youths work on the Rutenga flea market.

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – As the countdown to the July 30 harmonised elections continues, the Zanu PF district youth structures here have upped their campaign in areas deemed to be opposition strongholds, supporting developmental initiatives in Ward 18, Rutenga growth point.
In the recent past, the youths have been doing such activities as clean up campaigns, covering potholes on the ward’s roads and providing free labour for the renovation of the Rutenga Flee Market.
Speaking to TellZim News, Zanu PF youth political commissar for Ward 18, Clifford Sithole said they have organised themselves to provide maximum support to the developmental vision of their election candidates.
“So far, we have organised clean up campaigns and we are filling potholes in roads that are within Ward 18. Recently, we also provided free labour when our legislator Joosbi Omar and Councillor Canaan Moyo collaborated to connect taped water to the growth point’s public toilets.
“We are now providing labour for the renovation of the Rutenga Flea Market which is being renovated with the helping hand of Cde Omar. After ensuring an inevitable victory for all our candidates in this coming election, we are now confident that several projects that are lined up for the youths will be implemented,” said Sithole.
Ward 18 vice youth chairperson, Memory Moyo said although youths in the district did not manage to sail through in the Zanu PF primary elections at local government level, the agenda of young people will still see the light of the day if Zanu PF wins.
She said as youths, they were satisfied with the current winning council candidates regardless of their ages.
Mwenezi district is perceived as a traditional Zanu PF stronghold, with all 18  council seats currently held by the ruling party.
There are, however, such wards as 2, 5 and 18 where the opposition seems to have made some serious inroads.politics

Upenyu Chaota

Thousands of rural dwellers in Masvingo province are worried after they received text messages asking them to vote for President Emmerson Mnangagwa as well as respective Zanu PF parliamentary candidates.
The message, that were received beginning on Monday and are reportedly coming from Mnangagwa himself, has struck fear in many villagers who think the President and his ruling Zanu PF party knows everything about them.
Even some aspiring Zanu PF MPs from Masvingo who declined to named for fear of victimisation said they were equally worried with the latest development.
The aspiring MPs said they were busy doing some fire-fighting since their mobile numbers were also made public ‘by someone up there’ without their consent.
As a result – the MPs complained – some ‘rogue’ elements in their constituencies now have their numbers which they are now using to send ‘all sorts of insults and abusive messages’ to counter the ‘President’s’ unsolicited messages.
“It’s something that was rushed and implemented without even our knowledge and consent. I also received the same message in the morning and the next thing I am getting a chain of messages from my political opponents insulting me. Imagine even after the elections, over 25 000 people in my constituency now have access to my mobile number and they will be harassing me all the way,” said Zanu PF aspiring candidate in Masvingo province.
However, Zanu PF provincial chairman Ezra Chadzamira downplayed the issue saying there was no harm in people receiving ‘just a text message from the President’. He even said instead of crying foul, the people of Zimbabwe should be happy to have a rare opportunity to have a direct communication from Mnangagwa.
“I don’t see what the fuss is all about. Why would people get mad at Zanu PF for sending them text messages? How often does one get a message from the President? People should be grateful and not just throw stones. How many people have your number from which I can get them from?
“We did our research and we got the numbers. Opposition members are crying the loudest but what harm does a text message cause. Just ignore it and move on,” said Chadzamira.
However, members the public who once surrendered their voter slip serial numbers to Zanu PF during the voter registration period said they were worried with Zanu PF’s maneuvres since they do not know the amount of their personal data stored at Zanu PF offices.
“My mother in Masvingo rural phoned me informing me about that development. She was extremely worried and she wanted assurance from me that Zanu PF did not have mechanisms to see who she will vote for,” said another informant who spoke to this publication.
Another resident in Masvingo, Thomas Mbetu castigated Zanu PF for sending him the unsolicited message.
“I was shocked to receive that message from Mnangagwa. I am extremely worried because I did not give anyone my numbers except the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) and now it shows my privacy has been invaded and I am not sure what’s next,” said Mbetu.
Another resident from Mashava, Davison Mugodzwa said Zanu PF was fooling itself thinking that people still likes it.
“We don’t want such messages in our phones, they (Zanu PF) stole our data and they are now using it against us. That will not even change my thinking but it will instead consolidate my belief that Zanu PF is full of thieves,” said Mugodzwa.
When contacted for a comment on Tuesday afternoon, ZEC Masvingo Chief Elections Officer, Zex Pudurai said he was not aware of the development.
He said it was impossible for his organisation to give political parties the people’s contact numbers before referring all questions to the ZEC head office in Harare.
ZEC chairperson, Priscilla Chigumba told a press conference in Harare earlier this week that her organisation was not in any way involved in releasing voters’ data to Zanu PF.
“I urge all members of the public to contact either NetOne or Econet to stop sending you those messages in the same way you opt out from receiving telemarketing adverts.
“We will however investigate the source of the information and where there is any leak of information we will take appropriate measures,” said Chigumba while addressing a press conference.politics

Anesushe Mamhute

CHIREDZI – Independent aspiring councillor for Ward 3 in Chiredzi Urban, Charles Maporisa last week committed his time and resources to renovate a family’s dilapidated house.
The Mudara family’s ramshackle house stood opposite that of sitting councillor, Tarusenga Makamba’s own homestead for several years before Maporisa’s intervention.
The breadwinners of the family died over 20 years ago and the family has been finding the going very tough, with one of the children having been retrenched from his job at Edgars in 2002.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Paddington Mudara said he was surprised that help had come from where he least expected.
“There are so many people I had expected to help us but that did not happen. I am happy however that the assistance has come from somebody who has not even made it to public office,” said Mudara.
Volunteers under the supervision of Donald Manyora gave free labour in replacing wrecked trusses and iron sheets to the tune of US$350.
In his remarks, Maporisa said his was a simple act of goodwill and not a form of political posturing.
“Members of the community requested that I give a hand to the Mudaras by repairing their home which was now in very bad shape with the roof almost falling off.
“This is not the only needy family in the community and it is my hope that I will be able to help more families to have a decent roof over their heads,” said the aspirant.politics