The chief shocked villagers during a ward development meeting held at Nata business centre last week when he threatened his subjects with unspecified action if they voted for the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC.
The meeting, which was organised by a local non governmental organisation, Matabeleland Draught Alleviation Trust was turned into a political rally by the chief.
“MDAT had called the meeting to prepare for the coming rainy season. We always give a chief an opportunity to address his subjects on issues related to the agenda of
the day. On this day the chief started by politicising the meeting and begged villagers to vote for Zanu (PF) during the forthcoming elections. The chief said he did not want to lose his truck and his monthly allowances if MDC happened to win the elections,” said the coordinator of MDAT who refused to be named for fear of victimisation.
The coordinator said the traditional leader threatened to banish suspected MDC supporters from the area if Zanu (PF) lost the next election.
“During the meeting the chief even bragged that he had a list of all MDC supporters in the area. He said he had no problem with his subjects supporting Zapu or the Welshman Ncube led MDC but not MDC –T.”
Last month finance Minister, Tendai Biti snubbed a meeting organised by the chief’s council to review upwards the perks and allowances of traditional leaders. Traditional leaders in Zimbabwe have been accused of being an appendage of Zanu (PF). The president of the chief’s council, Fortune Charumbira, has on numerous occasions openly admitted the chiefs’ allegiance to the former ruling party.
Post published in: News