Two-thirds of Chamisa's top brass to join us this year, says Zanu-PF

ZANU-PF is being accused of using its deep pockets to entice disgruntled members of the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa to cross the floor.

After Zanu-PF Midlands Province chairperson Daniel McKenzie-Ncube and provincial Minister Larry Mavima last week brought Lilian Timveos and Blesisn Chebundo to State House, other Zanu-PF provincial leaders across the country have reportedly gone on a fishing expedition luring disenfranchised members of Chamisa's party who are not happy with the way the 2019 party congress was held in Gweru.

A member of the ruling party's Central Committee confirmed to the Zimbabwe Voice that she is among those on a "fishing" expedition in Manicaland. She said her team was targeting Members of Parliament recalled by then MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe with the intention to "bring them home to Zanu-PF".

She described disgruntled members bad t he low-hanging fruit.

A Zanu-PF group on social media, which is closed to public participation, also has campaign posters urging party members to "bring everyone home to Zanu-PF including even Nelson Chamisa".

In a statement this Sunday morning, Zanu-PF information director Tafadzwa Tuboy Mugwadi said that his party expected two-thirds of Chamisa's top officials to become members of Zanu-PF by year end.

"Staying positive, focused and clear! By end of year, we expect to have received 2/3 of the MDC Alliance standing committee and NEC members to Zanu-PF.

"You are all welcome. Remember only ZANU-PF is the permanent home to all," Mugwadi said.

In its report this Sunday, the Standard newspaper says President Emmerson Mnangagwa will entice MDC Alliance senior officials into joining Zanu-PF using various persuasive and even coercive instruments as he seeks to weaken his main rival Chamisa ahead of the 2023 elections.

Some of the legislators that lost their seats barely two years into their terms are said to have become vulnerable because Parliament was their only source of income.

"They are then approached and offered money, jobs and assistance to retain cars," said a top official to the Standard.

"They are supposed to pay tax to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and most of them do not have the money to do so.

"If they are offered tax exemptions in return for dumping Chamisa, most of them will fall into the trap."

The publication also reports that the MDC Alliance tried to convince Timveos not to dump the opposition party after senior Zanu-PF officials started enticing her to join the ruling party.
 
This was after she was allegedly spotted at a hotel in Gweru in the company of Midlands Provincial minister Larry Mavima and Local Government minister July Moyo.

Chamisa is said to have sent a party official to talk to her about her decision.

Timveos reportedly telephoned the MDC Alliance leader assuring him that she would not join Zanu-PF

However, Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo has dismissed allegations that the party had a strategy being executed at the highest levels to ground Chamisa.

"That is not our agenda," Khaya Moyo said. "We are concentrating on building unity in the country. Also focus is on the devastating COVID-19 pandemic and also on the economy.

"We don't have time to discuss individuals. Remember when they defected, (Timveos and Chebundo) met the president and they told him the reasons why they defected.

"The reasons they proffered are far from what they are talking about."

Khaya Moyo added: "Why do people not believe the reasons they said made them join Zanu PF?

"As a party, we welcome them because we saw that their reasons are sound. We don't have reason to splash money to lure anyone to come to the party or destroy the opposition.
 
"We are a majority party with two- thirds majority in Parliament. We are not that kind of party, which uses money."