Donation to Highlanders by Zanu-PF is political gimmick - analysts

Social commentators have said it is clear that the bus donation to the Bulawayo giants Highlanders football club by Zanu-PF was a political gimmick in an effort to attract votes for the Makokoba candidate Tshinga Dube.

The bus is set to be handed over to the club next week.

Bekezela Maduma Fizwayo said, "We were not born yesterday not to realise that the whole issue about the ceremony to deliver the Highlanders bus is a campaign gimmick for Tshinga Dube in the Makokoba by election. People have donated to Highlanders before and non of their donations have ever required such fun and fair."

He said teams and even schools have bought buses before some which are maybe bigger than what has been bought for Highlanders and never has a Vice President left his esteemed office to come down and receive the bus.

"What's so special about this bus or donation that it must bring the country to a stand still? Is it that Highlanders is so desperate that buying a team bus becomes such a big matter?' he said."Why parade Tshinga Dube and the bus through Makokoba four days before elections.Siyabonga for the donation Dube but politicising Highlanders is a big NO!!!! How are you going to control those overzealous ZANU PF Zvifukuto wing youth from coming to the "Highlanders function" without their ZANU PF regalia and mentality.

"Yenzani madoda, we can't do anything about it but fact remains asikufuni khonokho."

Godfrey Viki said Tshinga is so desperate.

"He is mistaken if he thinks Bosso supporters will standby and watch Zvipfukuto takingover our club. Highlanders must be defended at all cost," he said.

Sihlangu Dlodlo said over the years ubaba uTshinga has donated selflessly to Highlanders.

"He has put his money and his heart at Highlanders without seeking political mileage. It seems soo wrong that we begrudge any attempt today...just this once...for him have to realise a benefit," he said. "I am one who strongly belives that politics should steer clear of football but when we accept a politician's money we should know what it is we are getting into. Ubaba uTshinga is a good and well intentioned man. I support totally what he is trying to achieve.May I remind you that companies that have put into Highlanders far less than Mr Dube do bigger fun fairs, media launches and even write on the team uniforms. Shouldn't we do that for one of our own? For once let us forget whatever political views we habour about Mr Dube's party and focuss on the man and the donation. If anyone should vote for him as a result, so be it...SO BE IT BO!"

He said for the kind of man ubaba uTshinga is and for the things he has selflessly done for Makokoba, Highlanders, PF Zapu and Zimbabwe, I will VOTE for him...after all liKalanga wathethiswa laye. "Asimvoteleni bakithi," he said.

Journalist and political analyst Methuseli Moyo said "WHY say people must not bring politics into football when politicians are bringing politics into football? Involving Emmerson Mnangagwa in the affairs of Highlanders was bound to ignite all sorts of fires and present our club with an unnecessary public relations crisis where a supposedly joyous occasion like the handover of the team bus degenerates into acrimony, like we are witnessing now."

He said in his  humble view, Retired Col.Tshinga Dube and Highlanders, and indeed Zanu PF, can still achieve their intended objectives by ensuring that controversy does not overshadow the good work being done by Dube for Highlanders, the Makokoba constituency and the city and country at large.

"I have great respect to Col. Tshinga Dube aka Embassy, and would not love to see his good work being compromised," he said.