By Centre News Reporter

VILLAGE Heads in the vicinity of Bikita Minerals are reportedly working in cohorts with the ruling party activists to drum up cheerleaders for President Emmerson Mnangagwa when he comes to officiate at an event tomorrow (Friday, June 17). Mnangagwa will be at the Lithium rich minefield to officially open a Spodumene project being implemented by Chinese miners.

It is reported that village heads are compiling names of every adult villager and everyone is expected to attend.

Locals who spoke to Centre News revealed that threats were being issued to potential “defaulters” of the command.

“It has been declared that nothing else should be done tomorrow than going to Bikita Minerals where the President will be.

Village heads don’t want any excuses they have written down all names and they are saying they will be checking who attends or not at the scene,” said one villager.

Contacted for comment, Zanu PF provincial chairperson, Robson Mavhenyengwa scoffed at the allegations saying they are only inviting their party supporters to the event.

“Those alleging that they are being forced to come tomorrow (Friday) they are lying.

“We can’t invite CCC supporters to our events, they will cause violence, we don’t want them,” said Mavhenyengwa.

Concerns of traditional leaders being captured to campaign for Zanu PF have been raised and the opposition has always attributed their loss on previous elections to intimidation of the rural electorate and vote-buying. Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) acting provincial chairperson, Senator Misheck Marava could not be reached for comment as his mobile wasn’t available.

Efforts to get hold of CCC deputy spokesperson, Gift Ostalos Siziba were also fruitless. Busing of supporters to rallies has usually resulted in people getting stranded while some get involved in accidents as unroadworthy trucks are used to ferry people without any reprimand by the police.