ZimPF in door-to-door Mash East mobilisation

Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) has embarked on a door-to-door exercise to mobilise people to attend its Mashonaland East star rally at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera on Saturday.

Source: ZimPF in door-to-door Mash East mobilisation – NewsDay Zimbabwe July 20, 2016

By Jairos Saunyama

NewsDay yesterday witnessed a group of ZimPF members moving around the high-density suburbs urging residents to attend the rally that will be addressed by party leader Joice Mujuru.

Mujuru’s rally is expected to draw thousands of people in a province largely viewed as a ZimPF stronghold and home of “Gamatox”, a former Zanu PF faction many of whose members were kicked out of the ruling party for allegedly fanning divisions and trying to topple President Robert Mugabe.

ZimPF interim provincial spokesperson Setfree Mafukidze yesterday confirmed the door-to-door campaign saying many people felt free to discuss political issues inside their homes.

“We need to effectively reach out to the people, hence the need to visit people, in their homes where they are much comfortable to discuss issues. ZimPF teams are on the ground mobilising for our rally at the weekend. We are doing this to give people an understanding of our party as well as recruitment of new members,” he said.

“Our mobilisation teams are being well received and the people are happy with our people-driven initiatives that our party rolled out including our economic blueprint Build (Blueprint to Unlock Investment and Leverage for Development).”

Mujuru’s outreach has reportedly shaken the Zanu PF provincial leadership after reports that businessman and former governor Ray Kaukonde was funding the mobilisation team.

Kaukonde, who is yet to appear at any of Mujuru rallies, also commands a huge following in his home area of Mudzi.

The prominent businessman and former Zanu PF provincial chairperson has also not yet publicly shown his support for ZimPF although First Lady Grace Mugabe has in the past lambasted him for allegedly supporting and mobilising for Mujuru’s party.

“Mujuru is a household name in Mashonaland East province. She commands a lot of grassroots support and all the districts are ready to converge at Rudhaka to meet their leader,” ZimPF Mashonaland East interim chairperson Taurayi Pasirayi said.

Mujuru has so far addressed rallies in Masvingo, Manicaland, Harare and Bulawayo.