Zanu-PF has only 597 849 card carrying members

Zanu-PF's mobilisation drive for the next elections has failed to yield significant results amid reports that the party had only officially gained 18 000 new members countrywide.

According to a circular that was recently sent to provincial chairpersons by Zanu PF commissar Webster Shamu, which showed party cards sold since the partys conference in Bulawayo in December last year, it now has 597 849 card-carrying members up from 579 312.

Shamu wrote that out of 1 270 000 cards sent to provinces, 672 171 were returned. The 579 312 cards retained by the provinces were taken up by old party members.

The statistics showed that Matabeleland provinces snubbed the membership cards while the largest number was recorded in Mashonaland provinces.

According to a central committee report that was tabled at the Bulawayo conference in December, Zanu-PF sold 9 810 membership cards out of the 35 000 printed, but the recent update indicated that the number has marginally increased to 10 248.

In Matabeleland North, membership increased by a mere 163, from 8 639 to 8 802 while Matabeleland South members increased from 13 367 to 14 466.

The highest number of cards sold was recorded in Midlands where the number increased from 166 032 to 198 532 while in Mashonaland East 170 326 are now official Zanu-PF members up from 101 198.

In the circular, Shamu said an inter-departmental team would be dispatched to the provinces to recover all outstanding cards.

Zanu-PF has reportedly set up a unique campaign team in a bid to woo young voters ahead of crucial elections it is desperately pushing for this year.

The team which comprises university graduates, lawyers and businesspeople has already been dispatched to drum up support for the party. The team will work directly with President Robert Mugabe.