THE Zanu PF youth leadership has promised to build 54 000 houses for its members in the Midlands province in a move believed to be a vote-buying gimmick ahead of the general elections due this year.
BY STEPHEN CHADENGA
Youth affairs deputy secretary, Lewis Matutu said the ruling party planned to build houses that would be given to members in all districts in the province.
“Now is the time for the youth to economically benefit from supporting the party [Zanu PF],” he told the youth at a campaign rally in Gweru last weekend.
“I have just been talking to the Provincial Affairs minister [Owen Ncube] and the position is that 54 000 houses are going to be constructed in the Midlands province. The houses will be shared and all districts in the province will benefit.”
Matutu said the time when the youth were given beer for their loyalty was over, but that they should economically benefit from participating in politics.
He said the youth should benefit in all sectors of the economy, including mining and agriculture.
In the past two years, beleaguered former Zanu PF youth leader, Kudzai Chipanga went around the country promising youth residential stands.
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Some were allocated residential stands on disputed land and are yet to develop the properties.
But MDC-T youth assembly national spokesperson, Brian Dube dismissed the housing scheme gesture as a political gimmick coming from a party, which he said had failed to fulfil promises for more than three decades.
“This is a party that has been in power for 38 years and it would be morally wrong to continue making [unfulfilled] promises,” he said.
“Instead, by now, they should be pointing to achievements, to which the electorate can vote for them as a thank you gesture.”
Dube said only opposition parties could make promises, and not a party that has been in government since the country attained independence in 1980.
Over the years, the ruling party has been accused of using State resources, particularly agricultural inputs and food, in vote-buying.
