Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka/Raymond Jaravaza, Zimpapers Writers
ZANU-PF has intensified its campaign ahead of Saturday’s Nkulumane Constituency by-election, rolling out an aggressive door-to-door mobilisation drive that the ruling party says is already yielding positive results.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator, Desire Moyo in October.
Campaign teams have been deployed across the constituency to conduct house-to-house engagements, with the party expressing confidence in securing victory in the urban constituency.
Speaking at a Community Engagement Meeting in Nketa 6 on Sunday, Zanu-PF candidate Cde Freedom Murechu said the door-to-door strategy was proving effective in reaching voters directly and understanding their concerns.
“The door-to-door campaign is being intensified as we head towards the December 20 by-election. This approach allows us to have direct contact with the electorate and meaningful conversations with residents,” said Cde Murechu.
He said the campaign is being driven by party activists, whom he described as “foot soldiers”, stationed at every polling station and conducting daily engagements until voting day.
“We have intensified our campaign in all polling stations. Our foot soldiers are working on the ground every day, ensuring that we reach as many voters as possible,” he said.
Cde Murechu said feedback gathered during the engagements had informed immediate community interventions, including the donation of water tanks, large pots and plates for communal use, particularly during funerals.
“This programme was born out of concerns raised by residents during our door-to-door campaigns.
These engagements allow us to identify issues that require urgent attention and those that need long-term solutions,” he said.
Cde Murechu said the party employs a participatory governance model that combines grassroots consultation with policy implementation.
“As a party, we use a bottom-up approach where we gather concerns from the grassroots, then address them through top-down implementation. That is what has informed the initiatives we are rolling out now,” he said.
The Zanu-PF candidate noted that water shortages remain a major challenge in Nkulumane, prompting the distribution of water tanks and other utilities to ease the burden on residents.
Cde Murechu said door-to-door campaigning had become necessary due to declining attendance at political rallies and community meetings.
“People no longer have the time or interest to attend long rallies. Door-to-door campaigning allows us to reach them where they are and engage them without disrupting their daily routines,” he said.
Expressing confidence ahead of the poll, Cde Murechu said the campaign had already reached a significant portion of the electorate.
“We have managed to interface with nearly three-quarters of the voters through this exercise. I am confident that we are going to win,” he said.
The meeting was attended by senior Zanu-PF officials, including Bulawayo provincial chairperson Cde Jabulani Sibanda, Central Committee members Cde Charles Chiponda and Alderman David Ndlovu.
Zanu-PF District Co-ordinating Committee (DCC) Area 5 chairperson, Cde Mnothisi Nsingo, echoed Cde Murechu’s sentiments, saying the door-to-door strategy had helped the party understand residents’ pressing needs.
“We are a listening party. Water provision is a key concern in Nkulumane, which is why we have responded by solarising community boreholes and installing water tanks to improve access,” he said.
Cde Nsingo said Zanu-PF was confident of retaining its dominance in the by-elections.
“As chairman of DCC Area 5, I am confident that we are doing all the necessary groundwork to grab the seat from the opposition. While the opposition is in a state of disarray, Zanu-PF is getting stronger by the day, and we don’t doubt our chances of winning the parliamentary seat,” he said.
The party leadership and ordinary members attended the rally as a show of confidence in our candidate.”
“We are going all out to win this by-election. Zanu-PF has a strong record in by-elections and Nkulumane will be no exception,” said Cde Nsingo.
He said the growing turnout at campaign activities demonstrated the party’s strength on the ground, adding that the opposition was struggling to mobilise.
