Bhuka threatens electorate over donations 

Sydney Mubaiwa
MIRROR REPORTER 

GOKWE-Zanu PF candidate for Gokwe-Nembudziya constituency and former minister in the late President Robert Mugabe’s cabinet, Flora Bhuka, is allegedly threatening her CCC competitor from making donations ahead of the August 23, 2023 elections. 
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate the constituency Donwell Bangure told The Mirror that Bhuka threatened him after he donated 150 bags of cement for rehabilitating classroom blocks. He said he was forced to take back the cement. He also alleged that recipients were forced to give him back the cement. 
“The level of campaigning ground is not even because I am facing a number of challenges. People are being intimidated and threatened especially teachers and headmasters who had accepted the cement which I bought for the refurbishment of a number of dilapidated classroom blocks. I was ordered to withdraw the donations meant to develop the community,” he said.
Bhuka refuted the allegations and said opposition party candidates are free to campaign.
“No one has been intimidated and no one has been stopped from campaigning,” she said. 
Bangura said he donated over 30 bags of cement at Bande Primary School. Bhuka and Tafadzwa Muchuchu a Zanu PF supporter allegedly threatened the school and it returned the donation.
He said Bhuka also teamed with a Central Committee member Edson Chiherenge and stopped him from donating cement to Kofi Village in Ward 11.
Bangure however, said he managed to donate more than 100 bags of cement to Tongogara Primary School, Mawaya Preschool, and Nyatso Primary School for the refurbishment of the Chinyetu dip tank.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Midlands Provincial Elections Officer Dorcas Mpofu recently told politicians to refrain from obstructing opponents’ campaign rallies. 
She also told them during a recent Provincial Multi-Party Liaison Committee meeting held in Gweru that this and the destruction of campaign posters would culminate in political violence.
“Let’s all conduct peaceful campaigns across the whole political divide. Clashes endanger the peace and stability of our communities. Let’s tell our supporters to refrain from unlawful practices as we are seeking to hold a free, fair and peaceful election,” she said.