By Elezo Libanda
Katima Mulilo, 01 August- The ruling Zanu PF party has refuted allegations of vote buying during its campaign rallies where it has distributed gifts and cash ahead of next month’s elections.
Christopher Mutsvangwa, the party spokesperson, addressed the media last week, stating that the donations were a display of hospitality rather than an attempt to sway voters.
Zanu PF has organized six star rallies across the country, treating its supporters to various items, including bread, chicken pieces, fried chips, seed, and regalia.
“We are a well-resourced party, thanks to our hard work and dedication. Providing food at our rallies is not vote buying; it’s simply a demonstration of our party’s capacity,” Mutsvangwa explained. He added, “You can’t buy a person’s vote with a chicken; that’s not realistic.”
According to Mutsvangwa, the food offerings are a gesture of hospitality, considering that some supporters attend rallies early in the morning and may not have time to prepare their meals. He likened it to the African tradition of offering food to guests when they visit one’s home.
The opposition party has accused Zanu PF of using State resources to finance its campaign, but the ruling party maintains that its resources are derived from its own efforts and hard work.
In the upcoming elections, President Emmerson Mnangagwa seeks re-election, facing stiff competition from Citizens Coalition for Change’s Nelson Chamisa. The EEF has also encouraged Zimbabweans to return home and vote, emphasizing that the country’s future lies in their hands.- Namibia Daily News
