People interviewed by this publication largely concurred that Kasukuwere was too corrupt to be a Presidential candidate, as he used his position as the then Minister of Local Government and Public Works to enrich himself.
"This hullaballoo about Kasukuwere should stop because he is too corrupt to be a presidential candidate. In 2016, when he was the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, he used the position to corruptly parcel residential stands to his cronies, which included his young brother Tongai Kasukuwere, Sarah Mahoka, and others," said one Gift Bere of Harare.
Bere further accused Kasukuwere of unlawfully interfering in the affairs of the local authorities during his time as the Minister of Local Government and Public Works.
"When he was Minister of Local Government and Public Works, he illegally parcelled out 54 residential stands in Kambuzuma, Harare, where the Harare City Council has the sole jurisdiction for the land. Kasukuwere also corruptly dished out land in Bulawayo and Chitungwiza to his friends, a situation that has seriously affected service delivery in these areas. Such a corrupt person should be nowhere near the Presidential throne," added Bere.
A youth from Bindura, Gerald Muzvidziwa, said that Kasukuwere sold the youths a dummy when he was the Minister of Youth, Indigenization and Empowerment, as the empowerment programmes he preached only benefitted the few chosen.
"I will never vote for Kasukuwere because of what he did to the youths. When he was the Minister of Youth, Indigenization, and Empowerment, he promised that we would benefit from the Government’s indigenization and empowerment programmes. The programmes, that included the Old Mutual Youth Fund, only benefited those who were very closest to him. A person who previously failed to empower the youth should not expect the same disadvantaged people to vote for him," fumed Muzvidziwa.
Political commentator, Terrence Chipwanya said that it would be suicidal for Zimbabweans to vote for Kasukuwere, as the Presidential throne should not be occupied by an ‘archbishop of corruption’ such as Kasukuwere.
"The Presidential throne is sacred and should not be occupied by people of questionable character like Kasukuwere. He should first shake off the ‘corrupt person’ tag before he enters the Presidential race. As it stands, it’s undisputable that Kasukuwere is the archbishop of corruption, and it would be suicidal for Zimbabweans to vote for him," said Chipwanya.
