Former Vice President and now leader of the opposition Zimbabwe People First (ZPF), Joice Mujuru, says she is ready to stand as a presidential candidate in the eagerly-awaited 2018 national elections.
I have always been telling people since I was in Zanu PF that you do not need to be violent to get votes from the electorate because when I am in the ballot booth, I will be alone and will vote for whoever I want.
“All you have to do is convince people why they should vote for you and not intimidate them. They (Zanu PF) did it in Norton (using violence) and what did they get? Nothing.
“They inflated those figures they got because they got well less than what they said. You can buy or beat people but once they have decided on what they want, you cannot change them,” she added.
Last month, Zanu PF was humbled in the Norton by-election when its little-known candidate, Ronald Chindedza, was beaten hands down by the party’s former Mashonaland West provincial chairman, Temba Mliswa, who contested as an independent candidate.
This was also despite the fact that the Norton by-election had been marked by violence, the controversial parcelling out of residential stands and the holding of mega rallies by vice presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, among other prominent Zanu PF politicians, as they drummed up support for Chindedza.
Mujuru said Zimbabwe could not afford to hold violent elections, imploring all Zimbabweans to refuse to be used by politicians to foment violence against perceived opponents.
“If we claim that we are a democratic nation, why do we act otherwise? It is like a husband and wife situation. If a man beats a woman, it shows they have no brains to convince their spouses on whatever they want done,” she said.