Obert Mpofu, man of the people

While the people of Umguza benefited from the land reform programme - which they say they want to defend - ironically, most of them still receive food aid.

Mines minister Obert Mpofu, the legislator for the area, has been a regular visitor in the area, doling out lots of food and seed.

With the coming elections, villagers in the area say they will vote to protect their land amid allegations that Mpofu has gone on a vote-buying spree, flaunting his wealth at every given opportunity.

Mpofu is one of the few candidates in the party confident of winning elections in Matabeleland provinces.

During a recent visit to the constituency last week, villagers said although they were facing hardships, they would not accept reversal of the land reform.

"We are voting to defend our land," Sipho Ndlovu said.

"(Prime Minister Morgan) Tsvangirai is always threatening to reverse land reform, but many of us have made vast improvements on the land allocated to us."

Another villager described Umguza as a no-go area for other political parties.

"Have you ever seen or heard Tsvangirai addressing a rally here?" she asked.

"We will not allow traitors, people who want to destabilise the resettlement areas by giving back land to the whites."

However, other villagers said although they were voting for Zanu PF because of Mpofu, they preferred a leadership change in the party which they felt was neglecting the area.

"Mpofu alone cannot spearhead development," a villager from Ward 9, who declined to be identified, said.

"The government has neglected this area, we want leadership change in the party."

Mpofu is seeking re-election and is heavily tipped to clinch the seat.

The former Matabeleland North governor lost his seat in the 2000 elections and this served as a wake-up call, as he regained it five years later.