The villagers, who were summoned to various centres including Jembere and Mushimbo business centres, were told that the identity cards, which cost $2 each, would show whether they were real party supporters.
Fanuel Ziyambe who attended the meeting at Jembere, alleged that Eric Bota from Zanu (PF)'s Mashonaland East structures chaired the meeting with the assistance of village head Gracious Nyakabawo.
“We were told that these new cards would be a sign of our allegiance to the party and help in our identification come election time,” said Ziyambe.
Dorcas Masukume from Ward 12 said they had been told that all those who bought the cards would be registered in the provincial database. “We were told that the move was part of an exercise to ensure that the party knows how many people are in the constituency so that come election time, they would know how many votes to expect from each ward,” she said.
Nyakabawo was not available to comment. David Chapfika, the party’s MP for Mutoko, said he was not aware of the development. Normally party cards cost only $1 each and supporters should not be forced to buy them, he said.
Party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo referred all questions to provincial chairperson Raymond Kaukonde, who was not reachable for comment.
An MDC official from Mashonaland East, Tonderai Gwabada, said most villagers in the area were failing to fend for their families and asking them to contribute towards party projects was being insensitive to their plight. “This is a way of instilling fear among villagers because most will believe that they are being tracked come election time,” said Gwabada.
Post published in: News