Zanu-PF accused of open vote buying in Nkulumane

Zanu-PF stands accused of brazen vote-buying ahead of the Nkulumane parliamentary by-election set for December 20, with reports of residents receiving material handouts as part of the ruling party's campaign drive.

The seat fell vacant following the death of sitting MP Desire Moyo in a road traffic accident on October 10. Nine candidates from Zanu-PF, the splintered Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC), Zapu and several independents are vying for the constituency - a long-time opposition stronghold that has rejected Zanu-PF for more than 20 years.

Zanu-PF lost heavily in Bulawayo during the 2023 elections, with the then-united CCC claiming sweeping victories across the metropolitan province. However, internal turmoil sparked by self-declared CCC secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu has fractured the opposition, weakening its electoral machinery and leaving many analysts doubtful of its prospects in the upcoming poll.

Political observers say Zanu-PF appears determined to take advantage of the weakened opposition and secure the seat. The party has rolled out a high-intensity campaign, including significant financial pledges and material promises.

Last weekend, businessman and presidential advisor Paul Tungwarara announced a US$100,000 revolving fund for Nkulumane. He also revealed that the constituency will receive 30 tonnes of food aid, seed packs, 18 boreholes, transformer repairs and Internet connectivity kits. Tungwarara's arrival at the campaign venue in a helicopter drew attention, symbolising what critics describe as a stark contrast between the ruling elite and the impoverished township electorate.

Youth Affairs Minister Tinotenda Machakaire, addressing supporters at the same rally, declared that government leaders in Harare had been "eating alone" and urged Nkulumane residents to "join the feast," a statement that triggered sharp criticism from opposition groups and social commentators.

Analysts argue that the scale of handouts being distributed reflects both the desperation of voters struggling under economic hardship and the ruling party's awareness of those conditions - yet its willingness to address them appears tied to electoral cycles.

Critics say the promises and public spending highlight long-standing failures in governance that have left millions dependent on seasonal political benevolence. They warn that without structural reform, poverty will deepen while a politically connected elite continues to thrive.

Voters will cast their ballots on December 20, in what will be a major test of whether Zanu-PF can break Bulawayo's historic resistance - or whether Nkulumane will continue its long tradition of rejecting the ruling party at the polls.