Zanu-PF electronic card raises a storm

By Staff Writer | 09 Apr 2019 at 15:32hrs
Zanu-PF electronic card
The ruling party seems to have recently issued out debit cards to party members. The card was introduced a number of years back but back then it was not entirely clear what the function of the card was.

The membership card has ignited a storm on Twitter after one of the Zanu-PF supporters Kudzai Mutisi posted it and invited citizens to join Zanu-PF so that in the near future they will get money through their cards.

Said Mutisi, "Please join Zanu-PF and get your Electronic Card that also works as a bank card. In the near future, money will be transferred into those cards for our members. Don't be stuck with struggling parties, join the winners and be a happy human being!"

Mutisi further posted another message with the card saying Zimbabweans must join the Party with the best brains.

"Don't be left behind.... Join the people's party... Zimbabwe's best brains are in Zanu-PF... Be among those with beautiful intellectual stamina, not the MDC protestors... What do we gain from protests after all?"

The post prompted shadowy investigate group Pachedu to ask lawyers whether Mutisi was not violating a section of the Electoral Act that bars political parties and their supporters from offering incentives to citizens in exchange of the membership fee.

"Is Zanu-PF violating the Electoral Act? Lawyers and ZEC please come and clarify what we believe is a violation of the amended Electoral Act," Pachedu said.



Human Rights Lawyer Alex Magaisa responded that, "It might be hard to put it on the party unless he holds an official position and it can be proven that is acting on their authority. However, one might be held accountable as an individual since the law refers to a member or supporter, which from the language he appears to be."

Mutisi insisted that what he was saying was a party position.

"It's a party position of course.... Those cards are part of Zanu-PF's financial inclusion policy... They are ready for use just like any other bank card... Money can be transferred into or out of the cards ... If Pachavo doesn't want people to have bank cards, let them go hang."

For a $2 joining fee and a $1 monthly payment, the card can be used to transact at POS machines around the country. ]

Members can also link their bank accounts to the card but the central purpose of this is to pay fees related to party members as explained by Chairman of Zanu-PF technical committee Levi Mayihlome:

"We have a new membership card that we have introduced. This is an ATM or swipe card which is compatible and can be used for any transaction in Zimbabwe.

You can load your money in there and is connected to our Zanu PF account so that members can put in their money.

We have the card centre that deals with basically how you join Zanu PF. The procedures required to join includes a joining fee of $2 and per month you can pay a dollar which is deducted automatically.

"The card was introduced early this year, but the concept was there two, three years back, but in action we started rolling out the card in January last year in Bulawayo, Manicaland and Harare Province so that we can move with time."

Chairman of Zanu-PF technical committee Levi Mayihlome

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