Health worker and political commentator Setfree Mafukidze has outlined what he considers are the reasons why the majority of people living in rural areas vote for ZANU PF during elections.
Arguably, the majority of Zimbabweans live in rural areas, which coincidentally, are considered ZANU PF strongholds.
Mafukidze believes there are three types of ZANU PF supporters, namely those who fear that ZANU PF’s loss may trigger another war similar to the 1970s war of independence, those who genuinely support ZANU PF and would lose privileges and protection if it loses, and finally, those who want to continue enjoying the freebies given by ZANU PF such as free farming inputs. Pindula News publishes Mafukidze’s Twitter thread in full below:
1. Let’s talk about the Rural Vote again, as we already know ZANU PF has dominance in the Rural parts of Zimbabwe due to genuine and coercive strategies. ZANU PF knows it holds the string in these areas but what can the opposition do to attract the same Rural electorate?
2. The Rural electorate is one which some urbanites believe is daft but that is not true. When they vote for ZANU-PF it does not mean they do not know what is going on with their economy or how bad governance has affected the country. They know but they have reasons.
3. The reasons people in the rural areas support and would vote for ZANU-PF is because they have the history of the country’s war against Rhodesia told based on their areas because that war was more rural than urban, that war has too many horror stories known in deep rural Zim…
4. …as a result the people in rural Zimbabwe do not want anything that potentially triggers war and that ZANU-PF knows and uses that against them, ask yourself why there is an element of military presence prior to elections in rural Zimbabwe? It’s a reinforcement of fear.
5. Then there are those who genuinely support ZANU-PF, they are die-hards who do not want change because they have a history with ZANU-PF, any change is a threat to their safety under a new government, they have done too much dirt in the name of ZANU-PF hence they don’t want change
6. …they know very well they are not safe hence their duty is to whip everyone else into line and follow the ZANU-PF way, most of these people form the structures of ZANU-PF they are feared, their children are also in the structures and anyone else who wants to live in peace.
7. Then there are those who do not feel affected by urban economics like Rent, Water, Electricity bills etc, these people’s economy is centred on what ZANU-PF provides through the various agriculture initiatives such as Pfumvudza, Presidential input schemes these people are ok with…
8. …with ZANU-PF, they love it for annually providing them with inputs, they don’t have to buy seed and fertiliser, and most recently they were given 10 chickens per household a life-changing event by rural standards they will vote for T-shirts and caps too.
9. ZANU PF knows the people who actually vote for them, look at the number of projects they are pushing in rural communities. For example in Chikomba West where Dr John Mangwiro is MP and also happens to be Deputy Minister of Health, you will be amazed to know how many clinics are…
10. …under construction with some already completed and awaiting the usual ribbon cutting. This is where you see devolution funds being used to improve and have new Health care centres, people will vote for those projects.
11. What can the opposition do? Many times we hear stories of opposition supporters in Rural Zimbabwe not benefitting from Agricultural inputs and it’s true in some cases in fact most cases. The opposition needs to have agro inputs to give away too, which will counter the current
12. …scenario where their supporters are deprived. The opposition needs solid structures that reassure their supporters on the ground in case of violence they need to be able to stand together in times of need. They also need people to educate others on why they should support….
13. ..them, it is not always the case that everyone will agree with the opposition that we simply need change that will not cut it, unfortunately. If the opposition is going to overcome the Rural electorate there is a need to do more than just say people no longer want ZANU PF.