Andrew Langa's supporters expect him to romp to victory again

IN 2002 Zanu-PF rolled out its machinery and literally camped in Insiza North, as they hoped to wrest a Matabeleland constituency.

High profile rallies were organised, with Mugabe addressing them following the death of MDC-T MP George Joe Ndlovu.

The Insiza North poll was tied to his own presidential one. He had seen his party's majority slashed in Parliament and he needed all the votes he could muster.

Legislator Andrew Langa was a beneficiary of this largesse, as he sprung from being a virtual unknown to prominence - and his profile grew.

Langa has since quashed all competition to cling onto the seat, winning twice in 2005 and 2008. His supporters expect that he will romp to victory again.

But it has not been smooth sailing for the Zanu-PF Matabeleland South chairman, as he won a closely contested battle against Qhubani Moyo of the MDC in 2008 and the battle lines have once again been drawn between the two.

But Langa's staunchest supporters say they will vote for him again, as they say this will be a vote to defend the farms they were allocated during the land reform programme.

They fear that if Langa were to lose, then their farms may be repossessed with the winning candidate reversing the "gains of the land reform".

Parts of Insiza North are resettlement areas and the beneficiaries of the land reform feel their own fortunes are tied to Zanu-PF's continued stay in power.

Villagers in the constituency said they will make sure that Zanu-PF wins with the highest votes in Matabeleland.

"Since we moved from the communal areas, our lives have changed for the better," Jealousy Damu, a beneficiary of the land reform programme, said.

"What we have in the farms we owe to Zanu-PF. Therefore, we will vote for Zanu-PF to protect our farming interests and also as gratitude for empowering us."

Patricia Nkomo, another beneficiary of the land reform programme, said they had benefited a lot from projects initiated by the party in the farms.

"Zanu-PF is people-oriented," she said.

"We benefited a lot from poultry projects, which were initiated by the party in our constituency.

"A lot of women projects were also introduced to help women so that they could sustain themselves. If you take this into consideration, you will see the reason why we keep voting for the party."

Richard Nyoni from Killan Village said he always votes for Zanu-PF because it was the party he knew had brought independence.

"Which other parties can you vote for other than the one that brought us freedom?" he asked.

"For that reason I will continue voting for this party and it will win these coming elections resoundingly."

War veteran Jabulani Petshu Sibanda, Langa's campaign manager, said Zimbabweans had discovered that MDC-T has made false promises and they will therefore vote for Zanu-PF.

"We are not only going to win Insiza North, but Malaki Nkomo is also going to take Insiza South from the MDC," he said.

But Langa is another candidate often accused of employing intimidation and violence in an effort to hold onto his constituency.

Langa has also been subject to political violence. In 2002, united MDC supporters harrassed his wife, force marching her to kill a cockrel to show Langa that the Cockrel (Zanu-PF jongwe/iqgude) was dead.

There are reports that Langa's supporters intimidate other candidates and force them out of the constituency, a charge the legislator strongly denies.

Recently, the MDC claims its councillor Nqaba Masuku was forced into the mountains, as he fled Langa's marauding supporters.

The MDC candidate for the area, Moyo also claims he has received death threats and has reported the matter to the police.