Political Reporter
The MDC Alliance has devised cunning ways to endear themselves with the rural masses in a bid to penetrate ZANU PF strongholds and they are set to visit areas with people to be displaced by government to pave way for national development projects and sympathize with them.
A source who spoke to this publication said the MDC Alliance admitted that it was playing second fiddle to ZANU PF in rural mobilization and has set up a committee led by its Secretary for Rural Mobilization and Strategy, Happymore Chidziva, with the mandate to visit and interview people who are to be relocated to pave way for national development projects.
“The MDC Alliance has set up a committee led by Chidziva, Cecilia Chimbiri and Tapfumanei Muzuda to visit ZANU PF strongholds with people who are set to be relocated to pave way for some national projects. The idea is to sympathize with those people and portray ZANU PF as a ruthless party with no people at heart. This is one strategy by the MDC Alliance to endear themselves with the masses,” said the source.
The source added that the MDC Alliance has recruited some journalists from the Newsday to write stories that would negatively portray ZANU PF.
“The MDC Alliance has also recruited graphic designers who were tasked to manipulate videos of people to be interviewed so that they would publish snippets where people speak evil of ZANU PF. Chidziva’s team was also given the mandate to coach the interviewees so that they can be emotional and blame ZANU PF for relocating them. The idea is also to attract both local and international media and portray Zimbabwe as a country in crisis,” added the source.
The source said areas to be visited include Mutoko, Domboshava, Manhidze and Chikwanha in Mashonaland East province, and also Chilonga in Masvingo. The modus operandi is to incite the villagers to resist relocation and speak evil of investors from the East in order to tarnish the country’s relations with the countries in the East.
Some NGOs and Western embassies are believed to have availed thousands of dollars in support of the MDC Alliance’s programme of rural mobilization.
Political analysts, Reuben Mahoko, said people should not be hoodwinked by MDC Alliance’s crocodile tears as that party was the author of the misery the challenges they are facing today. Mahoko added that the MDC Alliance should not waste its time mobilising in the rural areas as people are aware that it invited sanctions that have continued to affect citizens.
The MDC Alliance is targeting to harvest six million voters in 2023, while the ruling Zanu PF party is mobilization for five million votes. However, the MDC Alliance mobilization programme is failing to gain traction due to continuous infighting within that party.
