Source: Zanu PF guns for 2m cross-border traders’ votes – DailyNews Live
Farayi Machamire 1 June 2018
HARARE – Zanu PF is mobilising 2 million cross-border traders to make sure
they are home by July 25 to vote for President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the
forthcoming do-or-die general elections.
This comes after Mnangagwa announced on Wednesday the country’s national
elections would take place on July 30 and that some 128 political parties
are expected to take part in the polls.
Close to 5,5 million eligible voters have registered to participate.
Zimbabwe Cross Border Traders Association president Killer Zivhu told a
press conference yesterday that his constituency had agreed to back
Mnangagwa in the make-or-break elections.
“As cross-border traders, one of the biggest associations in Zimbabwe if
not the southern region with more than 2 million people surviving on
cross-border trading, we now realise that this is a new dispensation and
we must also change the way we do business,” Zivhu said.
“As an association with more than two million people, we believe the man
in power has what it takes to change the lives of cross borders and as
cross-borders, we want to give the president a chance by voting for him
come July 30. Our decision was after long deliberations. We have decided
to support a Zanu PF candidate. Victory is now certain for ED Mnangagwa
and it’s now game over. This is our man.”
Zivhu, who has just won in the recent Zanu PF primary elections in Chivi
South to represent the party in National Assembly polls, said: “We are
looking as far as back 1980 there has not been much change in the lives of
cross-borders. We want to transform ourselves from being mere
cross-borders to becoming small-to-medium importers and exporters who will
generate income not only for our families, but revenue for government and
also provide employment.
“We are encouraging all cross borders that by July 25 we are near our
polling stations and ready to vote. We are sending notices to all
cross-border traders that on July 25 we are home to vote. After elections,
they can travel; we can hear the results from wherever we are.”
A significant number of Zimbabweans cross-borders daily to engage in
informal cross-border trade.
Zimbabwean cross border traders are a cosmopolitan, footloose group of
cultural and economic entrepreneurs. They are a highly gendered group, as
they comprise mostly women.
Cross-border trade as an occupation has given rise to the image of a
strong, independent and mobile class of women involved in long distance
trans-border business.
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