*Zanu PF and state security agents disrupt CCC rally in Chiredzi rural, at Chisambiji*.
CCC organizing department must urgently implement vigorous campaigns in Chiredzi and Mwenezi urgently.
14 February 2023
*Wezhira Munya*
Zanu-PF used dubious methods to ban Citizens Coalition for Change rally at Chisambiji shopping centre in Chiredzi, on sunday 12th February 2023. Honourable Mugidho was supposed to address this rally.
Chiredzi and Mwenezi constituencies have critical votes that will determine CCC victory in 2023. In the past elections, ZEC announced Mwenezi and Chiredzi results later after opposition strongholds results were announced. I am of the view that, Zanu PF manipulated past elections results from Chiredzi and Mwenezi to dilute opposition votes.
Zanu-PF is trying to monopolize Chiredzi. It has been observed that Zanu-PF rigs elections in Chiredzi and Mwenezi rural constituencies and win with over 40 000 votes against opposition.
Social analyst Dr Munyaradzi Chidarikire said: “Citizens Coalition for Change should do more programs in Chiredzi and Mwenezi rural constituencies. Zanu-PF has been rigging results from these areas.”
Due to Zanu-PF intimidation, Citizens Coalition for Change may fail in 2023 to have elections agents, council and member of parliament candidates.
To mitigate this fear and Zanu-PF rigging, Citizens Coalition for Change should urgently train fearless cadres from local and diaspora, said former MDC Masvingo West member of parliament Tichaona Chiminya.
In addition, honourable Mugidho said: “More rallies, door to door campaigns and other visibility programs are needed in deep Chiredzi and Mwenezi areas.”
We unpack the lessons learnt from the failed Chisambiji Rally, in Chiredzi and offer probably solutions:
1. Zanupf is afraid of CCC’s rural penetration. It’s most likely that our future rallies will be difficult to be approved.
2. Zanupf dispatched 3 truck loads of maize meal in ward 25 ie the Rally host ward. People spent the whole day waiting for the maize distribution. They were only released after the rally no maize was distributed.
3. The security sector was dispatched to spy the activities ie the police, Army Intelligent-and CIO we did not mind about them.
4. A surveillance truck with CIOs and the Zanupf DCC chair was parked at Chisambiji shops and would and times move up and down between the shops and the rally venue.
5. In ward 5 our strongest ward Zanupf called for a Beam registration meeting to prevent our supporters from going to the rally. This did not stop the gallant supporters from coming although most went to the Beam meeting.
Recommendations:
1. We need to strengthen our door to door strategies as I fore see rallies being banned by the rogue regime.
2. National youth taskforce led by fearless Tafadzwa Ngadziore to activate fearless youth cadres across Zimbabwe to literally camp in Chiredzi and Mwenezi rural constituencies.
3. Diaspora CCC communities to mobilize and raise money to support work in Chiredzi and Mwenezi rural areas.
3. Chiredzi and Mwenezi have biggest constituencies. There is need for off load cars and truck to assist CCC members to campaign.
4. In the past CCC failed to deploy local election agents and party candidates due to fear of victimization by Zanu PF. We recommend that CCC may deploy election agents and candidates from diaspora and from other parts of Zimbabwe.
5. Organizing department to organize President Chamisa’s mega rallies in Chiredzi and Mwenezi. These rallies if well attended will give psychology boast to Chiredzi and Mwenezi residents.
6. Provision of bicycles to help CCC members in Chiredzi and Mwenezi to excute their mandate.
7. Mwenezi and Chiredzi have resettled farmers. They are afraid to loss their land if they are found supporting CCC. Therefore, CCC organizing department must create effective strategies to campaign in these areas.
