Emilia Zindi in Mhondoro
Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo has called on Zimbabweans to register as voters in preparation for the forthcoming har­monised elections.
Speaking at the Annual Feast of Tabernacles of St John’s Apostolic Church of the Whole World here yesterday, Cde Khaya Moyo said it was important to register early.

He said the electorate should gear towards doing away with the inclusive Government through the ballot. He added that the Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial leadership should educate people on the importance of voter registration.
“If you have not done so, I urge you to do so now so that we dislodge this animal called the inclusive Government or ‘inclusive nonsense’,” he said. “We want the people of Zimbabwe to vote for Zanu-PF, which is the only party with a track record of the armed struggle that saw thousands of sons and daughters losing their lives in their quest to free this country.

“There is no other party which has that his­tory except Zanu-PF. You cannot vote if you do not register.
“As you cast your vote on that day, the first person you should vote for is President Mugabe; then the Member of the House of Assembly; the Senator and, lastly, the council­lor — all under Zanu-PF.’’ Cde Khaya Moyo said elections were due because the inclusive Government had outlived its tenure.

“This inclusive Government has overstayed the hospitality of the people. Some of us no longer want to get out of this arrangement as they are now in comfort zones.”
The Zanu-PF national chairman also casti­gated some senior Government officials for being selfish by owning more than one farm at the expense of others. He said greedy people were likely to miss heaven.

“There are some among us who have more than one farm each while others do not have. If you are like that you will not enter the King­dom of Heaven as what St John’s Apostolic Church of the Whole World members preach to us today,’’ he said.
Cde Khaya Moyo promised the congrega­tion that Zanu-PF would make sure the church was allocated a farm for its projects as well as three boreholes at the shrine.

The Ministry of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development would also soon issue the church with a 59-year lease to facilitate the construction of a church at the shrine.
Also members of the church in need of resi­dential stands in urban area were urged to reg­ister with the church leadership which would submit the names to the ministry.

Speaking at the same occasion, church leader Bishop Sydney Mabhiza appealed to the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Cde Webster Shamu, who is also Zanu-PF national political commissar, to stop local media houses from looking down upon indigenous churches.
“We are appealing to you minister to urge the media to desist from calling us the apos­tolic sect or the so-called apostolic churches as this is tantamount to discrediting us,” he said.

Responding to the entreaty, Cde Shamu, who attended yesterday’s event, promised to take up the matter with all media houses.
He said he was equally disturbed by newspa­pers that continue to attack the person of Pres­ident Mugabe. “There is no single day you read these papers and do not find bad things written about President Mugabe. It means if they do not do so, their papers will not be bought.
“I told them at the Press Freedom Day com­memorations that if they continue doing that we shall not hesitate to take strong measures against them,’’ he said.

He thanked the congregation for being patriotic by leading yesterday’s prayers at a time when the country was celebrating Heroes’ Day. “This is a clear sign that this church knows and understands the history of this country; that it did not come on a silver platter as thousands of gallant sons and daughters per­ished during the armed struggle.
“These gallant sons and daughters died so that we enjoy the freedom to pray as we are doing now.’’ Cde Shamu called on the church to join the indigenisation programme, saying it was its right.

“Where you identify a gold or platinum mine, do not hesitate to approach Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu so that you are allocated that mine as a church,’’ he said.
The event was attended by Zanu-PF Polit­buro member Cde Ignatius Chombo; Mashonaland West Governor and Resident Minister Cde Faber Chidarikire;

President of the Senate Cde Edna Madzongwe; Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman Cde John Mafa; House of Assembly member for the area Cde Sylvester Nguni and local chiefs, among other delegates.