Denford Magora's Latest Zimbabwe News Blog

A delighted Robert Mugabe arrives at State House earlier today for the swearing-in of John Nkomo as Zimbabwe's 2nd Vice-president. Nkomo was sworn in to replace the late Vice President Msika. Mugabe yesterday announced one of his most ambitious vote-buying projects, saying his party will spend 10 million this month and early in January to distribute thousands of tonnes of seed and fertiliser to farmers all over Zimbabwe. "This is a purely ZANU PF project", he said. Harare, Zimbabwe, 14 December 2009 After lambasting Tendai Biti for "sabotaging" agriculture in Zimbabwe, Robert "The Solution" Mugabe has now unveiled a US$10 million agriculture aid facility, designed to be a massive vote-buying exercise targeted at new and Communal farmers. Mugabe says he is targeting 190 000, which translates to about 900 000 voters. They will be given free fertiliser and maize seed. And they are sure to be told that this is coming from Mugabe and ZANU PF and that the MD...

While Morgan Tsvangirai tours the region looking for diplomatic support, Mugabe and ZANU PF are busy buying votes and loyalty as evidenced by their actions in the last two days. Mugabe's party is telling struggling farmers that they can not get farming inputs because the MDC-T and the Prime Minister are still campaigning for sanctions in order to continue hurting the people so that they vote for the MDC. Harare, Zimbabwe, 23 October 2009 Only a day or so ago, I reported on this blog that ZANU PF was distributing 10 000 bags of farms inputs (seed, fertiliser and the like) in Uzumba, which is a stronghold of theirs. I said it was quite clear that ZANU PF was busy buying the loyalty of voters now, preparing the ground for the next election. As most of you know, ZANU PF campaign tactics hinge on two things: buying loyalty/votes and intimidation (which often escalates into violence). Now, it emerges that just yesterday, Ephraim Masawi, a senior ZANU PF member and Mugabe confidant, was a...