Voices from Matabeleland –
Opinions on what contributed to the election results
ZANU PF and the campaign
Fear…
‘I voted for ZANU‐PF even though I do not support them. The war veterans told us that there
would be war if MDC won, who ever wants a situation again like that in the 2008 elections?’
[ Old man, Nkayi]
Food…
‘The other thing was the rice; the rice issue was a problem. You see food was used in
campaigning and people had no choice. They ended up giving that bucket of rice an
exaggerated value, maybe because it could have found them without mealie meal at home.…
When election time comes they have no choice but to vote for that bucket of rice.…’
[Middle aged man, Insiza]
Favours…
‘We also lost on strategy, as technically ZANU‐PF had an upper hand, they announced a
cancellation of outstanding local authority bills, giving a tangible reprieve to the electorate
and it won them some degree of support.’ [MDC‐T lawyer, Bulawayo]
Regalia and visibility…
‘ZANU gave just anyone, if you happened to be near when they were passing by they would
give you, either a cap, or a doek [scarf], to tie your head, they were not discriminating. Other
parties did not have ‐ you recognise Highlanders [soccer] fans by their regalia, but some
supporters of these other parties did not have their party regalia – these other parties ended
up like school children who just wear their school uniforms because they are too poor to have
the right clothes so that you know who they are.’ [Old man, Umzingwane]
…Witchcraft
‘Those caps and shirts from China, they were taken to a powerful N’anga in Chipinge, so that
when anyone waved those ZANU‐PF caps in the air over their heads, they ended up voting for
ZANU PF once they were in the polling station, no matter who they really supported…’
[Young man, Bulilima]
Assisted voting…
‘They would ask aged people, “Gogo can I go with you inside so that I can assist you?” That
was a plot. Aged people would want to go in, vote fast and go home. They would in the end
agree, though not fully. Like being honest about who would they really want to vote for.’
[Young Man, Insiza South]
3