Zanu-PF membership voluntary, says Jonathan Moyo

Zimbabwe's information minister Jonathan Moyo insisted on Monday that ruling party membership was voluntary, after an MP said school children from his area should carry party cards.

"Comrades, Zanu-PF card is voluntary to signify membership of the party. Let's leave kids out of this," Moyo wrote on social networking site Twitter on Monday.

Zanu-PF MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena told pupils at a primary school in his Gokwe-Nembudziya constituency last week: "Zanu-PF is the only party in the world worth joining and here in Gokwe, we must have pupils at primary and secondary schools having party regalia and cards.

"If we fail to guide our children from learning and understanding our philosophy, the enemy will use the opposition to indoctrinate them," he added.

Wadyajena reportedly made the comments while donating computers to the school. The comments sparked outrage on Twitter on Monday.

Zimbabwean journalist Nqaba Matshazi wrote: "While other countries are debating giving school kids iPads and all, Zim wants to give them Zanu-PF cards."

User @dawnchinhondo wrote: "Has this Wadyajena fella lost his mind? In the name of Jesus free Wadya."

A Zanu-PF card costs $2. Zimbabweans are sometimes urged to buy them to raise funds for the party.

Zanu-PF education minister Lazarus Dokora was currently considering allowing children to use electronic devices in school, but has encountered resistance.

Wadyajena was in the local news last week after his driver was jailed for stealing $40 000 in cash from him.