By Brenna Matendere
MDC Midlands has resolved to deploy its Proportional Representation (PR) Members of Parliament and Senators in rural constituencies to increase visibility and work on growing the opposition party’s support base in Zanu PF strongholds ahead of the 2023 elections Provincial spokesperson Takavafira Zhou said the MDC was eager to penetrate so-called Zanu PF strongholds and places considered no-go areas for the opposition.
“Our provincial executive agreed to send PR MPs and Senators to assist in growing votes particularly in rural areas,” he said.
“Although a clear deployment plan has not been made, they can be deployed anywhere be it in Mberengwa, Zvishavane, Shurugwi, Chirumanzu or Gokwe.
“Such deployment would go a long way in supervising structure enhancement and supremacy of the branch, designing strategy and tactics.
“The PR MPs and Senators will also assist in effectively inspiring MDC supporters through presence of national leaders in their areas.”
Searchmore Muringani, the MDC’s deputy provincial spokesperson, stressed that cases of partisan food aid distribution in the rural areas would come under the spotlight of the national party leaders, who would be ready to confront the perpetrators and end abuse of opposition supporters.
“We want a situation where there is constant link between our leaders and our grassroots supporters in the rural areas,” Muringani said.
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“At the moment some people fear to join MDC because there is no one who can stand up for them in hard times of harassment.
“So that will be part of the work to be done by our deployed MPs and Senators.”
MDC’s PR MPs in Midlands are Memory Mbondiya and provincial women assembly leader Catherine Gozho. Its Senators are former vice-president Morgen Komichi and Lilian Timveos.
The MDC is looking to get more parliamentary seats in the Midlands province at the next elections after managing a paltry four seats out of a possible 28 in the 2018 general elections.
Zanu PF has 23 seats in the province while the National Patriotic Front has one.
