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Zanu PF activates its brutal campaign
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
February 07, 2011

In preparation for the ZANU PF's election campaign, Madzibaba Godfrey Nzira, a self proclaimed prophet and Robert Mugabe adherent who in 2003 was jailed for 32 years on seven counts of rape walked out of prison a free man last week thanks to a controversial presidential pardon from President Mugabe. And just a week after being pardoned by Mugabe, the convicted serial rapist has been deployed to the Muzarabani District, marking the start of a national campaign to coerce members of the Apostolic Sect as well as other churches to support Mugabe and ZANU PF ahead of possible elections.

In 2002 Madzibaba Nzira hit the campaign path in support of Mugabe's presidential bid. That year Nzira claimed Mugabe was a "divinely appointed king of Zimbabwe and no man should dare challenge his office." His release by Mugabe nearly seven years after being jailed has raised suspicion that the ZANU PF leader is bidding to hunt for support from Nzira's followers ahead of possible elections. As such, there is everything wrong with Mugabe setting out Nzira the rapist. His freedom appears to be based upon his paying the piper, in this respect Mugabe as his rowdy party begins to deploy its hooligans around the country in anticipation of elections. The question is how many people are in jail and have received no pardon simply because they happen to support parties different from ZANU PF.

Mugabe last year attended a Johanne Marange Apostolic sect service while wearing their familiar white gowns. The move was seen by many as a campaign device. It seems Mugabe is trying to turn churches into campaign points for ZANU PF, especially in the rural areas. Mugabe's party has bribed some church leaders to support his party, but then the same leaders relying on compelling their followers. The same explains the continuing harassment of Anglican Church parishioners by the police who are backing up the excommunicated Bishop Norbert Kunonga in campaigning for Mugabe and ZANU PF.

ZANU PF is already testing the effectiveness of its bloody election machinery in Harare. Last week there were brutal attacks against MDC supporters in Harare suburbs of Budiriro and Mbare.

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