I dont buy votes: Minister

Tinomuda Chakanyuka, Senior Reporter
THE Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs, Cde Owen Ncube, has dismissed as unfounded allegations of vote buying after a video of him giving party supporters cash went viral last week.

In the video, Cde Ncube appears dishing out $2 notes to queuing Zanu-PF supporters ostensibly at the end of a party function in his constituency. Excitable opposition functionaries, including fugitive former Cabinet Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo had a social media field day on the video, alleging vote buying. They alleged that Cde Ncube was buying votes ahead of Zanu-PF’s primary elections today.

Cde Ncube yesterday clarified the video which he said was taken “a long time ago”.

“If people have travelled long distance, I don’t see anything wrong in reimbursing them their transport money. This is an old video where I was giving people transport money after a party function,” he said.

Added Cde Ncube, “In any case which vote is worth $2? I think it’s disrespectful to assume that people in my constituency can be bought for $2. We don’t buy votes but work for the people. It is the work that we do for the people that makes us electable,” he said.

Cde Ncube faces two other candidates, Cdes Tawanda Karikoga and Joahnnes Warisa for the Gokwe-Kana constituency National Assembly seat. He said allegations of vote buying were being peddled by opposition party members who are desperate to tarnish his image and that of the party ahead of the forthcoming harmonised elections. The ruling party Zanu-PF holds its primary elections today across the country to choose candidates who will represent the party in the harmonised elections later this year.-@irielyan