ZANU PF is printing over 1,6 million party membership cards to sell to its supporters countrywide in a move widely seen as an ambitious recruiting and fund-raising project. But analysts say the former ruling party may have to employ its trademark tactics of coercion and partisan food distribution to sell the cards to people who no longer support it.

Support for the party has been shrinking since the formation of its main political foe, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), just over a decade ago.

At least 528 000 cards have already been printed by Zanu PF’s printing and publishing arm, Jongwe Printers and will be distributed to the country’s 10 provinces soon, authoritative sources said recently.

“It is an ambitious project,” said one of the sources adding, “All in all they intend to print 1 670 000 party cards. They have already printed over 500 000.

“The problem is the party does not have that much support on the ground.”

It is feared that Zanu PF would use its old tactics of mass intimidation, gross violence and coercion to force people, especially those in the rural areas, to buy party cards.

Each card would cost US$2 but a party member would also pay an extra US$2 subscription fee for eight months.

Monthly subscription is 25 cents.

“If this goes according to plan the party will raise at least US$6,4 million in just a few months and this would go a long way in funding the revitalisation of the party,” said the source.

He said the money would be used to restructure the former ruling party, accused of destroying the country’s economy and impoverishing its citizens, ahead of next year’s general elections.

A senior official with Jongwe Printers confirmed last week that the cards were being printed.

Zanu PF secretary for finance David Karimanzira also confirmed the printing of the cards but denied that it was a fund-raising exercise.

“We have been doing that all along,” said Karimanzira. “It’s only membership cards.

“You cannot be a member without a party card, so that’s not a funding-raising project.”

He referred further questions to the party’s commissariat.

Newly appointed Zanu PF political commissar Webster Shamu, the man in charge of restructuring and rejuvenating the collapsing former liberation movement ahead general elections likely to be held next year, was reluctant to comment about how the party intends to revive its membership.

“Who told you we are printing party cards?” questioned Shamu.

When told that Karimanzira had already confirmed he said: “Phone me after an hour.” But Shamu, who is also Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, did not answer his mobile phone after the hour.

Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo also refused to comment saying the issue of party cards fell under the commissariat.

Analysts said it will be an uphill task for Zanu PF to sell all the cards without coercion and intimidation or the use of food as bait.

BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE

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