Midlands steps up BVR campaign

Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
Zanu-PF Midlands province has intensified campaigns to encourage party members in Chirumhanzu and Kwekwe districts to register in numbers during the second phase of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise that got underway this week. Zanu-PF Midlands provincial spokesperson Cde Cornelius Mupereri said 160 556 people had registered to vote under phase one, which was conducted in Gokwe North and Gokwe South. “We are happy that 160 556 people registered in Gokwe North and South under phase one of the BVR exercise,” he said.

“We are optimistic as a party that more people would register during the second phase. As at October 27, 160 556 people from Gokwe North and South had registered. Of these 88 682 are females and 71 874 are males. However, total number of people who registered to vote in the two districts is higher considering that the figures we have exclude Gokwe Sesame constituency whose registration would be carried out in the phase two of the programme.” Cde Mupereri said they were confident that 800 000 people will have registered in the province at the end of the voter registration programme.

“It is critical that our members register to vote so that we beat the opposition with numbers. Zanu-PF must retain power after the harmonised elections,” he said. Cde Mupereri said party members from wards, districts up to the province, were going out in full force to urge party members to register to vote. From Gokwe North and Gokwe South, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission will move to Mberengwa and Zvishavane districts. Chirumhanzu and Kwekwe districts will be in the third phase and Gweru and Shurugwi districts will be last to have the BVR registration.