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Zanu-PF top brass trapped with cash, cars
4 hrs ago | 216 Views
Zanu-PF provincial chairpersons are reportedly being courted with luxury vehicles and cash as part of efforts to secure endorsement for extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term of office at the ruling party's upcoming annual conference in Mutare.
The controversial "2030 agenda," which seeks to extend Mnangagwa's presidency beyond its constitutional end in 2028, has sparked divisions within the party, particularly among grassroots structures, including war veterans - long considered the party's trusted campaign operatives.
In a development that has drawn public criticism, business magnate Wicknell Chivayo, an ex-convict and known party benefactor, donated 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 VX-R vehicles to 10 provincial chairpersons on Monday. Each recipient also received US$100,000 for empowerment projects in their provinces, coinciding with the President's 83rd birthday celebrations in Zvishavane, Midlands.
Political analysts described the move as "blatant vote-buying." Rejoice Ngwenya said, "In a civilised country Zanu-PF should be ashamed of itself. Internal processes are rotten with corruption, and this is unbelievable." Analyst Jealousy Mawawire described the donations as a poorly-constructed political gimmick, warning that they were intended to secure chairpersons' support under the guise of loyalty to the President.
Former Zanu-PF member Reason Wafawarova alleged that the donations were orchestrated to create plausible deniability while achieving a political outcome, effectively buying provincial votes to manufacture consensus for the extension. Commentator Nick Museyama noted that several provinces, including Bulawayo and Mashonaland West, had already endorsed the ED2030 agenda, with the timing of Chivayo's donations reinforcing suspicions of vote-buying.
In addition to vehicles and cash, Chivayo donated 10 ambulances valued at US$100,000 each for distribution across the provinces, further fuelling criticism of the ruling party's patronage practices.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe has suggested that Mnangagwa could remain in office beyond 2030, citing his goal of steering Zimbabwe to middle-income status by that year. Mnangagwa, however, has maintained that he is a constitutionalist and intends to step down in 2028.
The developments highlight growing tensions within Zanu-PF as the party prepares for its annual conference, with opposition to the 2030 agenda persisting among some grassroots and veteran structures.
The controversial "2030 agenda," which seeks to extend Mnangagwa's presidency beyond its constitutional end in 2028, has sparked divisions within the party, particularly among grassroots structures, including war veterans - long considered the party's trusted campaign operatives.
In a development that has drawn public criticism, business magnate Wicknell Chivayo, an ex-convict and known party benefactor, donated 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 VX-R vehicles to 10 provincial chairpersons on Monday. Each recipient also received US$100,000 for empowerment projects in their provinces, coinciding with the President's 83rd birthday celebrations in Zvishavane, Midlands.
Political analysts described the move as "blatant vote-buying." Rejoice Ngwenya said, "In a civilised country Zanu-PF should be ashamed of itself. Internal processes are rotten with corruption, and this is unbelievable." Analyst Jealousy Mawawire described the donations as a poorly-constructed political gimmick, warning that they were intended to secure chairpersons' support under the guise of loyalty to the President.
Former Zanu-PF member Reason Wafawarova alleged that the donations were orchestrated to create plausible deniability while achieving a political outcome, effectively buying provincial votes to manufacture consensus for the extension. Commentator Nick Museyama noted that several provinces, including Bulawayo and Mashonaland West, had already endorsed the ED2030 agenda, with the timing of Chivayo's donations reinforcing suspicions of vote-buying.
In addition to vehicles and cash, Chivayo donated 10 ambulances valued at US$100,000 each for distribution across the provinces, further fuelling criticism of the ruling party's patronage practices.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe has suggested that Mnangagwa could remain in office beyond 2030, citing his goal of steering Zimbabwe to middle-income status by that year. Mnangagwa, however, has maintained that he is a constitutionalist and intends to step down in 2028.
The developments highlight growing tensions within Zanu-PF as the party prepares for its annual conference, with opposition to the 2030 agenda persisting among some grassroots and veteran structures.
Source - newsday
