The ruling ZANU PF party in Harare province is throwing everything at the upcoming elections by launching an army of grassroots campaigners to win votes. They have assembled 3,500 teams of door knockers to canvas support in every street and neighbourhood.
At a party meeting in Chitungwiza, provincial chairman Goodwills Masimirembwa ordered the campaign teams to “work like mad”. He proudly declared “We want to fish from the opposition’s pond.”
Masimirembwa told the campaigners to “spread out and reach the masses” but warned them to “campaign peacefully”. He said President Mnangagwa had called for a violence-free election and told the teams “We don’t want any form of violence.”
More than 300 opposition Citizens Coalition for Change members dramatically defected to ZANU PF at the meeting. Politburo member Charles Tavengwa demanded supporters “turn out in force and deliver a knockout blow for ZANU PF and President Mnangagwa”. He predicted a landslide of “no less than 6 million votes!”
Women’s League chair Ratidzo Mukarati urged women to “storm the polling stations” as they make up most voters. Youth League leader Emmanuel Mahachi said new young voters must “put their cross by ZANU PF on the ballot”.
The ruling party is pulling out all the stops to win next month’s fiercely contested elections. But will their army of door knockers be enough to overcome a surging opposition?
