ZANU PF yesterday called on members of the Bulawayo business community to provide names of party members moving around soliciting donations in the name of the party, so it could give them to the police.
NDUDUZO TSHUMA STAFF REPORTER
Addressing journalists at the party’s provincial offices, Davies Hall, Zanu PF Bulawayo chairperson Callistus Ndlovu said they had received complaints from business people on the alleged extortion, but they did not give names of the offenders.
“Our attention has been drawn to the activities of certain individuals who move around in the city seeking donations in the name of Zanu PF without the authority of the party,” Ndlovu said.
“Zanu PF wishes to advise the public, particularly the business community, not to entertain such individuals without checking with the party headquarters at Davies Hall, 6th Avenue Extension on their bona fides.”
Ndlovu said his party did not authorise members to go about soliciting donations without proper documentation from its offices.
“This means that individuals going about the city soliciting for donations are not sent by the party.
“They belong to rogue elements that want to tarnish the name of the party.
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“Any member of the party found engaging in such extortionist behaviour will be subjected to severe party discipline.
“Members of the party have in the past been warned against distorting the government’s indigenisation programme by going about harassing the business community as if they have the authority to do so.”
Ndlovu said Zanu PF did not discriminate citizens of the country on the basis of creed in accordance with President Robert Mugabe’s sentiments that Zimbabwe is for all Zimbabweans.
“We will not entertain people who harass others on the pretext that they belong to Zanu PF. They are not serving Zanu PF interests and want to destroy Zanu PF. If they are Zanu PF, they have to say which interests they are serving,” Ndlovu said.
He called on the business community to provide evidence urging them not to succumb to the extortionists.
“We believe strongly that these people should be stopped.
“If we receive the names we may send them to the police. I do not know anyone from the party who has been accused, but if it is proven that someone was doing that then we could send them to the police.”
Ndlovu denied that the Press conference was in response to an article by Southern Eye yesterday titled “Zanu PF in ‘extortion’ storm” which revealed that suspected party youths were collecting “protection fees” of up to $500 per week from some Bulawayo companies.
Ndlovu said the media briefing had been pre-planned. Southern Eye first broke the story in August.
