News / National
Zanu-PF denies setting up militia bases in Mashonaland
22 Jun 2011 at 10:58hrs | Views
ZANU-PF Mashonaland Central Province has dismissed as "false" reports that the party had set up terror bases in the province in preparation of elections expected this year or early next year.
Provincial chairman Dickson Mafios yesterday said it was the work of the agents of regime change who wanted to tarnish the party's image.
The private and international media have been carrying numerous reports that Zanu-PF had established terror bases in Mashonaland East and Central provinces as a way of instilling fear to villagers to vote for the party in the elections.
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network and other pressure groups aligned to the MDC-T are reportedly claiming that the party had set up bases in Mudzi and Kotwa in Mashonaland East.
Other areas fingered included Mashonaland Central's Muzarabani, Fox Farm, Chief Negomo's area, Nzvimbo growth point, Kasaya Primary School and Chakari in Rushinga.
However, Mafios said the party would never set up bases because Zimbabwe was not in a war situation.
He said the province was geared for free and fair elections, which he said Zanu-PF would win resoundingly without using violence or force.
"We don't have bases and we don't need them. We are in charge of the province and there is no reason why we should have bases.
"We have enough structures in place and we are busy verifying them as a way of strengthening the party. We want to see if all our members have got the necessary documents for registering as voters to make sure that we defeat the imperialists once at for all. The rumours are just there to tarnish the revolutionary party," he said.
Mafios said the only group in the province was from the Development Aid from People to People, which was helping in the construction of classrooms in the province. He said members of the group, comprised mainly of builders, were moving from constituency to constituency assisting communities.
"We are only aware of a group of about 52 people from DAPP which is helping in classroom construction. This is because we don't have enough funds to pay builders and parents are financially struggling. So these are our partners who offered to bring their programme into the province.
"They are currently in Shamva and would move into the next district after completing their duties there. Probably these are the 'terror groups and bases' they are talking of," he said.
Mafios reiterated that the province was ready for elections and would want them to be held as soon as possible.
Provincial chairman Dickson Mafios yesterday said it was the work of the agents of regime change who wanted to tarnish the party's image.
The private and international media have been carrying numerous reports that Zanu-PF had established terror bases in Mashonaland East and Central provinces as a way of instilling fear to villagers to vote for the party in the elections.
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network and other pressure groups aligned to the MDC-T are reportedly claiming that the party had set up bases in Mudzi and Kotwa in Mashonaland East.
Other areas fingered included Mashonaland Central's Muzarabani, Fox Farm, Chief Negomo's area, Nzvimbo growth point, Kasaya Primary School and Chakari in Rushinga.
However, Mafios said the party would never set up bases because Zimbabwe was not in a war situation.
"We don't have bases and we don't need them. We are in charge of the province and there is no reason why we should have bases.
"We have enough structures in place and we are busy verifying them as a way of strengthening the party. We want to see if all our members have got the necessary documents for registering as voters to make sure that we defeat the imperialists once at for all. The rumours are just there to tarnish the revolutionary party," he said.
Mafios said the only group in the province was from the Development Aid from People to People, which was helping in the construction of classrooms in the province. He said members of the group, comprised mainly of builders, were moving from constituency to constituency assisting communities.
"We are only aware of a group of about 52 people from DAPP which is helping in classroom construction. This is because we don't have enough funds to pay builders and parents are financially struggling. So these are our partners who offered to bring their programme into the province.
"They are currently in Shamva and would move into the next district after completing their duties there. Probably these are the 'terror groups and bases' they are talking of," he said.
Mafios reiterated that the province was ready for elections and would want them to be held as soon as possible.
Source - Ziana
