THE Election Resource Centre (ERC) has accused Association of Rural District Council (ARDC) leader Killer Zivhu of trying to use the organisation to mobilise votes for Zanu PF.
BY OBEY MANAYITI
In a statement yesterday following remarks attributed to Zivhu in which he pledged that ARDC members would mobilise 2,3 million votes for President Robert Mugabe ahead of the 2018 elections, the electoral watchdog said such behaviour must be condemned in the strongest terms.
“The ERC unequivocally condemns this behaviour for its apparent deviation from the mandate of rural local authorities in Zimbabwe. Using rural district councils as mobilisation vehicles to the advantage of one candidate is not only unconstitutional, but a clearly laid intention to use State resources inappropriately,” the organisation said.
ERC described Zivhu’s behaviour as a direct violation of Section 266 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
“The ERC demands that Dr Zivhu and, indeed ARDC, desist from abusing public offices in furtherance of partisan interests. The ARDC needs not be schooled again that once one holds public office in a multi-partisan society their behaviour and practice must be guided by principles of non-partisanship in execution of duties,” it said.
The electoral watchdog demanded Zivhu to immediately withdraw the statement and urged the government to distance itself from the proposed strategy.
However, Zivhu laughed off the accusations, saying the message was targeting Zanu PF councillors and shadow councillors.
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“Tell them that I was telling Zanu PF councillors and they are elected under the ruling party ticket. Therefore, they should make sure that in their respective wards, they mobilise 1 500 people to register and make sure that they have IDs.
“In places that there are no Zanu PF councillors, the shadow councillors must do that work and there is nothing that we need to apologise about. I was talking to Zanu PF councillors and they are for Zanu PF party.”
