Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe will spend more than R30-million in unbudgeted funds on buying new vehicles for and increasing payments to hundreds of traditional chiefs in a bid to win their support in parliamentary elections next March, according to officials and reports.
The decision is reminiscent of similar unbudgeted payment made to liberation war veterans in 1997, which led to the collapse of the currency and kick-started the events that have resulted in the country's economic decay.
Traditional leaders, who have become an integral part of Mugabe's electioneering strategy, help to coerce illiterate villagers into voting for Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.
In the recently held parliamentary by-elections in Lupane and Gutu, chiefs were reportedly placed at polling stations where they recorded the names of villagers from their areas as they queued to vote.
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The villagers were reportedly told beforehand that their voting was being monitored by strategically installed cameras and those who "misplaced" their votes in the opposition slots on the ballot papers would "suffer painful consequences".
Zanu-PF snatched the Lupane seat from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change with a majority of about 800 votes. In the 2000 parliamentary elections, the MDC won the seat by 11 000 votes. Zanu-PF retained the Gutu seat, which was previously held by the late vice-president, Simon Muzenda.
Apart from intimidating voters, chiefs generally bar the opposition from canvassing in the rural areas.
Mugabe has been holding meetings with the chiefs and officiated at a meeting of traditional leaders in Masvingo a week ago. He promised to "look after them", although he did not elaborate. Soon after that he doubled their allowances and yesterday government officials said he had ordered new vehicles for them.
Ministry of transport officials said they would be placing orders worth about ZIM$15-billion at the country's main vehicle manufacturer, Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries, for B1800 and B2500 Mazda pickups for the 260 chiefs. This perk will be in addition to the increased cash payments. A chief will now earn ZIM$1,5-million, slightly more than a government teacher.
The government will probably have to borrow the money, which will make it even more difficult to revive the economy.
"With the election in sight, they (the government) could possibly just print the money to accomplish the patronage.
They have done this before and there is no reason why they should stop," an official said.
The sops to the chiefs have fuelled speculation that Zimbabwe could be heading for an early election. The parliamentary elections are officially due in March but Mugabe could call an early election in October before the current maize harvest runs out. Many senior ruling party officials, buoyed by their success in by-elections, believe that if an early election is held, the embattled MDC would be lucky to get 15 seats. It currently has 51 seats in parliament. - Independent Foreign Service
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