MDC smashes Zanu’s rural stronghold

HARARE - MDC's rural blitz and its costly participation in the electoral route to achieve change is beginning to pay dividends, despite politicised food distribution and intimidation in rural areas.
Until recently Zimbabwe's rural constituencies were no-go areas for the MDC. But in the rural dist

rict council elections held at the weekend, the opposition party made considerable inroads into the ruling party’s stronghold.
The full results were not available at the time of going to press, but early results showed that MDC councillors won seats in several places, including rural Kariba, Shamva, Bikita, Shurugwi, Gutu South, Gokwe, Chimanimani, Buhera, Chipinge North and South, Guruve, Matobo, Binga, Lupane, Chirumanzu and Mutasa communal lands.
“We applaud the hundreds of thousands of heroes and heroines across Zimbabwe who continue to invest in the electoral route,” said Nelson Chamisa, the MDC Secretary for Publicity and Information.
“This is a major victory which shows that the people have issued an eviction notice to the regime,” he said.
Thousands voted for MDC candidates in Muzarabani, even after the candidates had fled after their houses were burnt down by identified Zanu (PF) hooligans and state agents.
Politicised food distribution and victimization by chiefs and village heads seem not to have affected MDC supporters and the party has compiled a comprehensive report with over 500 cases of assault, arson, intimidation and torture of its candidates and supporters in the run-up to these elections.
“The people have given the regime a vote of no-confidence. Zanu (PF) may (say it won) but statistics show that about 44 percent of the rural electorate voted MDC. They braved massive intimidation, threats and violence to vote for the only party that represents the last hope of a brutalized and repressed nation,” said Chamisa.

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