Published: 11 June 2018

The MDC- Alliance's bid to make inroads into the Zanu-PF stronghold of Mwenezi ahead of the forthcoming harmonised elections is under threat after the alliance's candidate for Mwenezi East Mr Kudakashe Bhasikiti received a lukewarm reception at the party's campaign rally held at Rutenga Growth point on Saturday.

Mr Bhasikiti is a former Zanu-PF Mwenezi East legislator.

He served as Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister during the Mugabe era before he was sacked from the ruling party.

Mr Bhasikiti wandered looking for a political home and joined the Zimbabwe People First then led by Dr Joice Mujuru.

He later joined the MDC Alliance led by Mr Nelson Chamisa, which has nominated him as its candidate for the Mwenezi East constituency.

On Saturday Mr Chamisa introduced Mr Bhasikiti as the alliance's candidate for Mwenezi East constituency but the move was disapproved by the gathering.

Advocate Chamisa tried to placate the crowd by telling his supporters that Mr Bhasikiti was now reformed after leaving Zanu-PF.

"'We think Bhasikiti will be our best foot forward in Mwenezi as our candidate in the July 30 elections, does anyone disagree? I think he will make a good candidate for us,'' he said.

"Yes it is true that he was once in the wrong basket but he is now in the right place. The MDC Alliance is like a church where members worship under a tree, such a church will never fill up and we welcome everyone.''

When he was Mwenezi East legislator, Mr Bhasikiti came under attack from people in his constituency for allegedly running down the 400-hectare Moria Farm he was allocated by the Zanu-PF Government under the land reform programme.

Before Mr Bhasikiti took over the citrus and sugar cane farm, hundreds of locals used to be employed there while others used to get oranges and export mangoes for sale to sustain their families.

Mr Bhasikiti also earned infamy after he was forced to run for dear life by angry Tugwi-Mukosi flood victims at Chingwizi, who blamed him for failing to articulate their plight to Government yet he was provincial affairs Minister.

Chingwizi falls under Mwenezi East and Mr Bhasikiti will be counting on the flood victims' votes on an MDC Alliance ticket come July 30.

At the Rutenga rally Advocate Chamisa also formally introduced his council candidates in the harmonised elections.

In his address, Mr Chamisa promised to leverage on the beef herd in Mwenezi and push for the opening of abattoirs that will process the meat for export to earn the country foreign currency.

Mr Chamisa pledged to open closed companies in 24 hours if elected President. The MDC Alliance presidential candidate also announced plans to introduce a programme called DURA (Development, Urbanisation for Rural Areas) if he wins the elections.

The DURA project will electrify rural communities, Mr Chamisa said.

Mwenezi is a Zanu-PF stronghold and the opposition has over the past decade failed to make inroads.

The MDC-T even failed to set up party structures in the district.
- the herald