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Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
POLITICAL parties and independent candidates have hailed the peaceful environment prevailing as they intensify their campaigns in various parts of Manicaland Province, with first-time voters emerging as their key target.
According to census statistics, youths constitute about 65 percent of Zimbabwe’s population, but have historically not been participating in the country’s elections due to various reasons.
Competition has intensified ahead of the August 23 Presidential, Parliamentary and council elections.
Parties that will be taking part in the upcoming plebiscite include the ruling Zanu PF, National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), Democratic Union of Zimbabwe (DUZ), Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and United Zimbabwe Alliance (UDA).
Independent candidates have also thrown their hats in the ring.
For Manicaland, there are four independent candidates seeking to hold political office in the province’s 26 constituencies.
The various parties are offering different policy packages to citizens in order to attract their crucial support.
All the political parties have their campaigns running smoothly without any reports of violence across the province.
Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairman, Cde Tawanda Mukodza said their campaign throughout the province has gone a gear up, adding that the ruling party is now consolidating their support in villages.
Cde Mukodza said the majority of people want to vote for the ruling party due to the various projects that they have been doing for the benefit of the grassroots.
During the ruling party’s rallies, the party candidates take down people’s expectations and preach to the electorate about Zanu PF’s future plans.
“I am coming from the youth wing. I have age on my side. The majority of voters are young, which is my age bracket. We are effectively interacting and convincing the electorate to vote for President Mnangagwa and Zanu PF.
“We need young people in the party while retaining the old guard. We have a good blend of candidates — youth and experience — and can get a result from any catchment,” he said.
Cde Mukodza said the ruling party’s thrust is to empower youths and women who constitute the majority of voters.
“We are focusing on grassroots mobilisation and our candidates are moving in each corner of the province to get votes for President Mnangagwa come August 23.
“Our campaigns are at village level and the impact is so immense. People are promising to vote for Zanu PF. We are targeting everyone and every sector,” he said.
Cde Mukodza said all political parties have been campaigning peacefully.
“All parties have been able to hold their campaigns freely following President Mnangagwa’s clarion call for peaceful campaigns ahead of the elections.
“We have witnessed our opponents in the opposition holding their campaign rallies in the province freely.
“There are no reports of violence, and we are not going to accept any form of harassment. This province is very peaceful, and there is a lot of tolerance.
“In fact, people across the political divide have matured politically, which is healthy. The election should a battle of ideas and policies.
“Zanu PF has the best policies to take Zimbabwe forward, and we have the youths in mind, especially the first-time voters. We cannot ignore them, we need them in the basket because they are the vanguard of the party. They should come on board and take advantage of the various empowerment programmes offered by Government,” he said.
CCC provincial election coordinator, Mr Itayi Masaka said they are waiting for their official campaign launch in Bindura on Sunday, following which they will also target grassroots mobilisation across Manicaland’s 26 constituencies.
Mr Masaka said their candidates have been holding campaign meetings without encountering any political violence.
“We have candidates who have been holding meetings in Manicaland. So far things have been going on smoothly as there are no incidents of violence.
“It is our wish for the current peaceful environment to remain throughout the election cycle. Political opponents should be able to campaign freely in all constituencies and wards.
“We hail the prevailing peaceful environment and abhor violence. We are one people of Manicaland, and as such we should not fight or break each other’s bones in the name of politics because elections come and go, and we will remain as neighbours and relatives,” he said.
DUZ secretary general, Mr Pishai Muchauraya said they have fielded three Parliamentary candidates and a party list for Senatorial seats.
“We are mobilising and our approach is different from the traditional method of rallies. We are engaging people on a one-on-one basis in their villages and the response has been very good.
“Where we are doing door-to-door meetings, people are asking us questions, and they are saying they will vote for ZUD candidates. We are very happy and at this pace we are hoping to get something in the harmonised elections.
“We have no complaints so far. We have not received any reports of violence from our supporters. Our wish is that this peaceful environment prevails,” said Mr Muchauraya.
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