She told a meeting at Chipinge Primary School that government would honour its election promises to the traditional leaders who helped the party romp to a “landslide victory” in the disputed 2013 polls.
“Zanu (PF) would have never made it in all the elections without you traditional leaders, so this is the time to remember you. We should reward you with residential stands because you are the custodians of the land,” she said. An official from the Ministry of Local Government, who requested not to be named for protocol reasons, said government was in the process of identifying residential land to be allocated to the chiefs.
Traditional leaders have been accused of helping Zanu (PF) manipulate people’s votes during election time, forcing villagers to attend rallies and intimidating all those spotted at opposition gatherings or wearing MDC regalia.
President Robert Mugabe assured the traditional chiefs at their annual conference in Gweru last year that government would soon buy them brand new cars of their choice and increase their allowances in response to their “striking grievances”.
Post published in: News