Chin’ono lures first time voters with free food

Pius Chinyera

Desperate to lure first time voters, social media anti-government activist and MDC-Alliance campaign strategist, Hopewell Chin’ono has courted South African locally franchised food outlet, Hotplate Grillhouse to provide a free meal to registered first time voters in an attempt to mobilise support for the MDC-A ostensibly under a voter registration campaign ahead of the 2023 plebiscite.

Whereas Chino’no has been encouraging would-be first time voters to register, Hotplate Grillhouse has been lured to incentivise the operation with a free meal upon production of proof of registration.

“Morning Hopewell. Thank you for the encouragement to vote. Finally a registered voter,” read a message from one Martha Tatenda.

“Fantastic, you are entitled to a meal from @hotplateGrillh1. When do you want to go,” read Chin’ono’s reply.

In addition, Chin’ono also openly told the registrants to vote for ‘change,’ a cliché which is synonymous with the MDC-A leader Nelson Chamisa.

 Opposition critics, particularly Chin’ono have often blamed the ruling ZANU PF of employing ‘politics of the stomach’ and yet the same has already made a head start politicising the voter registration exercise of would-be voters.  

“The campaign is a failure as it is targeting town folks presumably in MDC-A strongholds where the MDC-A is failing to maintain support due to the corruption in the MDC-A run urban councils and cancerous factionalism currently dogging the MDC-A structures,” political commentator Elfas Gona said.

“Chin’ono is clutching at straws fearing he will lose relevance in the political sphere and hence he continues on the anti-government bandwagon. The free food for potential voters is yet another sign of desperation and hypocrisy,” added Gona.

“He is also naïve to think that all youths in Zimbabwe are anti ZANU PF like him, hence the trick to mobilise for the MDC-A by offering people free food,” Gona added.

Gona said elections were not won online and mobilisation rooted in people centred policies has proved a winner in previous elections.