“We have been summoned to Harare by Minister Chombo. The agenda of the meeting is not clear but from what I have heard from the district administrator, it seems the minister wants to hear our campaign strategies for the upcoming referendum and elections,” said a chief who refused to be named for fear of victimisation. The chief, whose area is an MDC-T domain, said they would hold their own meeting before travelling to Harare.
“Chiefs from Binga have also been under pressure from the minister and Zanu (PF) leadership for allegedly failing to campaign for the party. As chiefs we are saying there are a lot of issues which government should address before our people can vote for Zanu (PF),” added the chief. Another chief who also refused to be named said he received correspondence from the DA last week about the meeting with Chombo.
“We will travel to Bulawayo and there is going to be a bus which is going to take us to Harare. Minister Chombo will be hosting us at a local hotel,” he said. Last week the controversial minister left Binga a bitter and frustrated man after the villagers failed to agree with his call to grab white-owned companies along the Zambezi River.
Chombo, who was the guest of honour at the Kujatana Nkubotu Peace Half Marathon, took advantage of the large crowd who attended the function to campaign for Zanu (PF), much to the disappointment of the predominantly Tonga people at the function.
“You people here have not been voting well during previous elections. My party wants you to take and own all those white fishing companies along the Zambezi. That other party is protecting the whites and they do not want indigenisation,” said Chombo amid murmurs of disapproval from the crowd.
The MDC –T councillor for ward 24 Luckson Ndlovu took a swipe at Chombo for politicising the function. “This is a marathon and I do not know why Chombo chose the occasion to attack my party. I think you have seen for yourself the body language which people here displayed. People should never take people here for granted.” said Ndlovu.
Post published in: News