Obert Mpofu promises maize to villagers, distribution not on political line

ZANU-PF is not going to impose candidates on people but will give them the chance to choose capable individuals to represent them in the coming elections, Umguza House of Assembly Member Obert Mpofu has said.

Mpofu said this at a rally at Majiji Secondary School in Bubi District yesterday where he pledged to provide the drought stricken communities with maize while his wife Councillor Sikhanyisiwe Mpofu pledged to give women resources to start self-help projects in an effort to empower them and make them economically independent.

He said the maize was going to be given to communities and we are not going to look at their political affiliation. Those in Zapu or the two MDCs should also be given the maize so that they realise how good Zanu-PF is.

"We are not going to tolerate imposition of political candidates. We will simply let people choose their leaders. As a party, we strongly condemn imposition of candidates, we are aware clearly that the power rests in the people and we will let them talk and decide. Zanu-PF is a people's party, a party of excellence whose policies are development oriented. The land reform and the indigenisation and economic empowerment policies are testimony of a party with people at heart.

"I am going to give this community two truckloads of maize next week and if the MDCs or any other party give three I will give you six. In whatever they give, I will double the allocation of whatever they will bring to you but I will not give hungry communities bicycles. What use is a bicycle to a hungry villager," he asked.

Mpofu said people should not vote for Mr Tsvangirai who had shown virtually no respect for women.

"People should not just vote blindly. How can people vote for a leader who has no respect for women, a man who abuses women with impunity? Someone who takes about five women and does not even have the courtesy of paying a cent for the damages. What do you expect of him if he becomes the president? A leader who does not trust people who are close to him. He has evicted them and is only left with his wife," he said.

He also said he would provide seed and fertiliser to the communities saying he was not just called Umdudhla for nothing.

He refuted private media allegations that he had a campaign manager called Moyo who defected to the MDC, saying wherever that Moyo was, he should be ashamed of himself for lying through the teeth that he was working for him.

"I never had a campaign manager called Moyo. I was shocked because I do not even know him.

He should be ashamed of himself for lying," he said.

The rally was attended by Bubi House of Assembly Member Mr Clifford Sibanda, Bubi-Umguza senator Mr Lot Mbambo and councillors from Umguza and Bubi.