Tonderai Saharo
Masvingo—The ruling Zanu PF is bribing people with food to garner political support for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s contentious 2030 agenda in Masvingo province.
The claims come amid a severe El Niño-induced drought that has left many families in the region struggling to put food on the table.
Sources accuse the party of taking advantage of desperation within communities by distributing mealie-meal to residents in exchange for attendance at political rallies meant to mobilise support for President Mnangagwa’s term extension beyond 2028 when he is supposed to step down.
The provincial minister, Ezra Chadzamira, a staunch Mnangagwa ally, hosted a lavish birthday celebration in his Masvingo West constituency over the weekend where six truckloads of meali-meal were paraded at the event on the promise that each attendee would receive a 10kg bag.
The event, attended by 10 of the province’s 26 parliamentarians, was seen by critics as a platform to promote the 2030 agenda.
But, according to some of the villagers who attended, they did not get the food, sparking frustration and accusations of empty promises.
Nicholas Mpofu, a villager who attended the event, expressed his disappointment over the non-delivery of food aid.
“We went to the celebrations after being told there would be food and drinks for everyone, and that we would receive mealie-meal at the end.
“They never mentioned it would turn into a rally, and most villagers had no choice but to attend because we are facing hunger at home,” he said.
Miriam Munetsi, another attendee, criticised the event as a display of wealth by Chadzamira and the ruling elite.
“Nothing concrete was discussed to improve our situation. Our roads are in disrepair, there are no boreholes, and our children walk long distances to schools without water. Government aid seems to depend on whether or not you attend Zanu PF meetings. We are not sure if we are going to get the mealie-meal which was paraded to us,” she said.
Zanu PF provincial chairperson, Robson Mavhenyengwa,, defended the event, saying it was an opportunity to mobilise grassroots support for Mnangagwa.
He claimed the mealie-meal, sourced by Chadzamira, was not distributed due to safety concerns as night fell.
“This event was meant to celebrate one of our own in Zanu PF, and we used it to rally support for our leader.
“The distribution of the mealie-meal was halted because it was dark, and we feared there would be commotion,” Mavhenyengwa said.
The allegations against Zanu PF highlight deeper divisions within the party, particularly over the 2030 agenda, which seeks to extend Mnangagwa’s term.
While some members support the agenda, others, reportedly aligned with vice president Constantino Chiwenga, are firmly opposed to it.
Last year, the party’s provincial structures barred two legislators, Roy Bhila of Chiredzi North and Benjamin Ganyiwa of Guru East, from conducting party activities after they allegedly refused to endorse the 2030 agenda.