ZANU PF Bulawayo province has dangled free residential stands for Emganwini residents in a move seen as a bid to build up its thin support base in preparation for 2018 elections.
Chief Reporter Zanu PF has not won a single seat in Bulawayo in recent years.
Scores of residents thronged Tasha’s shopping complex on Monday and Tuesday to register with Zanu PF officials in a makeshift office.
Residents were told that the party would facilitate free residential stands in an undisclosed location within six months.
“A group of Zanu PF officials were knocking at our doors saying there is a meeting at Tasha’s,” a resident said.
“When I got there, there was a huge crowd, while others queued.
“The officials told us that Zanu PF was embarking on a free residential stands programme.
“They were quick to say they were not campaigning, so anyone interested could provide his or her details, including current residential address.”
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Some residents said they would accept the stands, but would not vote for Zanu PF.
However, some raised doubt over the genuineness of the programme, questioning how the party could afford free stands.
“The city council is battling to provide stands to people on its waiting list and how will Zanu PF afford to dish out stands, who will foot the bill?” one resident, only identified as Amnda, asked.
Zanu PF officials were not keen to clarify issues to residents.
Council is grappling with a housing backlog of more than 100 000.
Acting Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson Christopher Dube could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The residential stands drive follows Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko’s meeting with the Zanu PF provincial executive at Davies Hall last month, where he bemoaned the party’s poor performances in past elections in Bulawayo.
Mphoko called on the provincial executive to start building the party by recruiting new members beginning now, ahead of the 2018 elections that he said should see the liberation movement bag seats.
Party members have since then hit the ground running, embarking on door-to-door campaigns.
Last month, Zanu PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere (pictured) criticised the party’s Bulawayo province for spending too much time on rumour-mongering and personal fights, resulting in the party performing badly in elections.
