News / Local
Bulawayo not part of Zimbabwe, says Zanu-PF
28 May 2015 at 07:20hrs | Views
Zanu-PF has begged Bulawayo residents to vote for the party's candidates at the June 10 by-election, saying the poll presents the city with a perfect opportunity to be part of Zimbabwe.
The ruling party has not won a single seat in Bulawayo since the formation of the MDC in 1999.
For 15 years, Bulawayo was under the leadership of MDC-T, they separated the people of Bulawayo from the government.
Zanu-PF has, however, gone for the jugular ahead of by-elections boycotted by the MDCs, distributing flyers indicating that Bulawayo has not developed because it "is the only province that is outside the government and Zanu-PF".
The flyers have angered the electorate, the majority of who are among thousands that have been thrown out of employment as de-industrialisation in Bulawayo, once the industrial hub of Zimbabwe, continues with no end in sight.
"For 15 years, Bulawayo was under the leadership of MDC-T, they separated the people of Bulawayo from the government," part of the Zanu-PF flyer reads.
"Out of 10 provinces, Bulawayo is the only one that is outside the government and Zanu-PF.
"It does not have ministers who drive voting for Zanu-PF and be part of Zimbabwe.
"This by-election is a chance for Bulawayo to take a leading role in voting for Zanu-PF and being part of Zimbabwe.
"Our city, which had women's clubs, youth clubs, recreational clubs and vibrant industry structures, is now without employment, recreational facilities because it is managed by MDC-T which is outside the government.
"Presently we have a number of candidates, including independents, Zapu, NCA, Transform Zimbabwe and many other groupings who continue to take you Bulawayo citizens for a ride.
"All these groups are outside the government. Their role in Parliament will be meaningless."
Bulawayo is the only city that has continuously voted against Zanu-PF and the party says these elections must buck the trend.
"People of Bulawayo must not remain in opposition for the rest of their lives as Bulawayans," the flyer reads.
"We need to work with the government and Zanu-PF for the future of our children.
"People of Bulawayo, we need you back so that we (could) work together for the development of Bulawayo.
"Please vote Zanu-PF for unity, peace and development."
The flyers have generated heated debate among residents who vowed to punish Zanu-PF during the polls.
Cowdray Park resident Happison Ncube said the flyers were an insult to Bulawayo residents.
"In response to Zanu-PF campaign flyers: They say that for the past 15 years the city was under the leadership of MDC which separated them from the government, it a clear political gimmick and it negates having a Provincial (Affairs) minister, Eunice Sandi Moyo, who is in the very same Zanu-PF government campaigning with such material," Ncube said.
"It makes fools of Sandi and company. If Bulawayo is not counted as part of Zimbabwe and the government, how are the citizens going to vote for them?
"Zanu-PF officials once said people of Bulawayo are lazy, so residents will be very lazy to vote for them.
"The same Zanu-PF also said people of Matabeleland are uneducated, so we are so uneducated we won't manage to identify their candidates on ballot papers.
Ncube added: "The very same flyers said the city has no single minister to drive development, it means people like Sandi are not even recognised as ministers, they are being used."
Monica Ndimande said the flyers confirmed the marginalisation of Matabeleland, saying it was obvious focus on development was elsewhere, and deliberately so.
"The message is very clear on Zanu-PF thoughts towards Bulawayo," she said.
"The government deliberately allowed industries to collapse since the city, to them, is not part of Zimbabwe.
"Now they want us to vote for them under the pretext that they would resuscitate firms.
"I have one word for them - they should forget about getting my vote," Ndimande, a vendor, said.
Another potential voter wanted to know in which country Bulawayo was situated since it was outside the government and Zanu-PF.
The ruling party has not won a single seat in Bulawayo since the formation of the MDC in 1999.
For 15 years, Bulawayo was under the leadership of MDC-T, they separated the people of Bulawayo from the government.
Zanu-PF has, however, gone for the jugular ahead of by-elections boycotted by the MDCs, distributing flyers indicating that Bulawayo has not developed because it "is the only province that is outside the government and Zanu-PF".
The flyers have angered the electorate, the majority of who are among thousands that have been thrown out of employment as de-industrialisation in Bulawayo, once the industrial hub of Zimbabwe, continues with no end in sight.
"For 15 years, Bulawayo was under the leadership of MDC-T, they separated the people of Bulawayo from the government," part of the Zanu-PF flyer reads.
"Out of 10 provinces, Bulawayo is the only one that is outside the government and Zanu-PF.
"It does not have ministers who drive voting for Zanu-PF and be part of Zimbabwe.
"This by-election is a chance for Bulawayo to take a leading role in voting for Zanu-PF and being part of Zimbabwe.
"Our city, which had women's clubs, youth clubs, recreational clubs and vibrant industry structures, is now without employment, recreational facilities because it is managed by MDC-T which is outside the government.
"Presently we have a number of candidates, including independents, Zapu, NCA, Transform Zimbabwe and many other groupings who continue to take you Bulawayo citizens for a ride.
"All these groups are outside the government. Their role in Parliament will be meaningless."
Bulawayo is the only city that has continuously voted against Zanu-PF and the party says these elections must buck the trend.
"People of Bulawayo must not remain in opposition for the rest of their lives as Bulawayans," the flyer reads.
"We need to work with the government and Zanu-PF for the future of our children.
"People of Bulawayo, we need you back so that we (could) work together for the development of Bulawayo.
"Please vote Zanu-PF for unity, peace and development."
The flyers have generated heated debate among residents who vowed to punish Zanu-PF during the polls.
Cowdray Park resident Happison Ncube said the flyers were an insult to Bulawayo residents.
"In response to Zanu-PF campaign flyers: They say that for the past 15 years the city was under the leadership of MDC which separated them from the government, it a clear political gimmick and it negates having a Provincial (Affairs) minister, Eunice Sandi Moyo, who is in the very same Zanu-PF government campaigning with such material," Ncube said.
"It makes fools of Sandi and company. If Bulawayo is not counted as part of Zimbabwe and the government, how are the citizens going to vote for them?
"Zanu-PF officials once said people of Bulawayo are lazy, so residents will be very lazy to vote for them.
"The same Zanu-PF also said people of Matabeleland are uneducated, so we are so uneducated we won't manage to identify their candidates on ballot papers.
Ncube added: "The very same flyers said the city has no single minister to drive development, it means people like Sandi are not even recognised as ministers, they are being used."
Monica Ndimande said the flyers confirmed the marginalisation of Matabeleland, saying it was obvious focus on development was elsewhere, and deliberately so.
"The message is very clear on Zanu-PF thoughts towards Bulawayo," she said.
"The government deliberately allowed industries to collapse since the city, to them, is not part of Zimbabwe.
"Now they want us to vote for them under the pretext that they would resuscitate firms.
"I have one word for them - they should forget about getting my vote," Ndimande, a vendor, said.
Another potential voter wanted to know in which country Bulawayo was situated since it was outside the government and Zanu-PF.
Source - Southern Eye
