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Farm equipment used to buy votes
Njabulo Ncube, Financial Gazette
January 17, 2008

http://www.fingaz.co.zw/story.aspx?stid=2004

Zanu PF is using farm equipment and threats to sway voters ahead of elections to be held in March, a report by a pressure group says.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), which is monitoring the pre-election period, reports numerous cases of politicisation of state and public functions and programmes in rural areas.

ZESN has deployed 120 long-term observers that are monitoring election related events in the existing 120 parliamentary constituencies.

The pressure group has produced a report covering events that took place between November 24 and December 14, 2007.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is likely to seize on the report as evidence of what it says is continuing ZANU-PF intimidation of its supporters and the use of state resources to influence the outcome of the March polls.

ZESN says its observers found that in the Midlands province, traditional leaders in Silobela, particularly Chiefs Gobo and Ruya, have banned all opposition activity in their areas.

In Manicaland, ZESN observers in Nyanga noted that Chief Chifodya has been openly campaigning for the ruling ZANU-PF party.

In Hwedza and Chiredzi North, villagers called to a meeting for the distribution of ox-drawn ploughs under the Reserve Bank's Farm Mechanisation Programme were made to chant ZANU-PF slogans before they could benefit.

In Masvingo Central, at Roger Howmann Hall, the ploughs were only allocated to people who held a fully paid up ZANU-PF membership card and could chant at least three of the party's slogans correctly.

ZESN observers also established that the District Administrator for Gokwe Nembudziya, one Mr Mutikizizi, assured people who had been given ploughs at Mutora that they would not repay their loans if the ruling party won the elections

Masvingo Provincial Governor Willard Chiwewe is alleged to have stated that the ox-drawn ploughs donated to poor peasants would be withdrawn if ZANU-PF lost in the elections.

Under the mechanisation programme, beneficiaries are, in fact required to pay for the implements they receive.

Observers in Gokwe Sengwa, Chivi North, and Mutare South have witnessed the partisan distribution of agricultural inputs under Operation Maguta, a government farming programme coordinated by the Zimbabwe National Army to members of the ruling party.

In Zaka West, a councillor allegedly warned villagers they would be "bitten by dogs" if they supported the MDC.

In Hopley, Harare South, the pressure group's observers reported an incident in which at least one person was assaulted after he refused to attend the "million-man" march.

Police reportedly stood by as youths in ZANU-PF regalia tried to force residents to join the march.

Talks between the opposition and the ruling party have stalled as the MDC presses for a postponement to allow a level playing field to be put in place before any elections can be held.

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