The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube Sunday News Reporter
THE Zanu-PF women’s league yesterday held rallies in Tsholotsho North ahead of the 10 June by-elections, amid calls for women to realise the power they possess in terms of the direction of the country’s politics.Women in the constituency were called upon not to always allow men to take a lead and further influence voting patterns but instead take it upon themselves, as the majority, to take the lead in freeing the nation from any Western influence.
Addressing the women yesterday at Tshitatshawa, Zanu-PF’s Matabeleland North women’s league secretary for administration, who is also Lupane East legislator, Cde Sithembile Gumbo said women should stand up come 10 June and vote in their numbers for the Zanu-PF candidate, Professor Jonathan Moyo.
She said Zanu-PF was a party that valued peace and development and hence was the only party that could help push Tsholotsho forward.
“You see us all here, campaigning for Zanu-PF, the sole reason is that we want to protect the peace that we are currently enjoying in the nation. We are not here to speak about Prof Moyo but we are here speaking on behalf of Zanu-PF.
“I usually joke with my MDC-T colleagues in parliament that they always make noise that Zanu-PF always rigs but the truth is we never rig, we are just united and organised, we plan for elections so that come election day we are assured of victory,” said Cde Gumbo.
She urged women who attended the rally that on Election Day they should strive to convince two or three more people who will also vote for Zanu-PF so as to determine victory.
“According to our country’s laws people are not allowed to wear party regalia or chant any slogans at the polling stations but 100 metres from the polling stations they can do so. Therefore, come June 10, all of us should ensure that by 7am they be the first to cast their vote. Carefully study the ballot paper, see what position our candidate is on then come to the rest of us who will be standing 100 metres away and inform us because we don’t want any spoilt vote, we don’t want any vote lost,” said Cde Gumbo.
Speaking during the same rally, Central Committee member, Cde Alice Dube said women were the only people who could determine the party’s victory come 10 June.
She likened the election to a woman about to go into labour, saying this was the one time when the women had the power to give birth to development and progress in Tsholotsho.
“Some of us actually fainted when we heard that Prof Moyo had lost in 2013 because this was a son of Tsholotsho who had done a lot for the district, even at a time when he wasn’t an MP. However, the Lord has given us another chance to fix our mistakes.
“MDC-T came through their representative, Mrs Roselyn Nkomo, who did nothing for this community. All that she might have done was continually tell us that she is a daughter-in-law, gave us goats, which she later took away whenever she came visiting. In parliament we heard she never uttered a word saying she was respecting her husband, which is not logical at all,” said Cde Dube.
She urged people not to be misled by the two independent candidates who were campaigning in the constituency saying they were there just to waste people’s time.
“Honestly how can Getrude Sibanda just come from her fields and want to waste our time, we all know she has nothing to offer, worse still Busani Ncube whom we all know is a mere herdman, truth be told these people are taking us for granted, let us not be misled ladies.
“When we talk of Prof Moyo we all know what development he has brought to Tsholotsho, we all know the roads he has worked on, we all know the clinics he has helped construct, his works are there for everyone to see,” said Cde Dube.
