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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent

Zimbabwe Cross Border Traders Association president Cde Killer Zivhu has launched a campaign named, “Vote First Before You Travel” to encourage cross border traders not to travel on the eve of July 30 so that they cast their votes in the harmonised elections.

The association has been mobilising its nearly two million members to vote for President Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF considering the policies that are being put in place to ensure they carry out their business with ease.

Members of the association, who also include vendors, have been distributing flyers to all cross border traders travelling to neighbouring countries, conscientising them on the importance of the July 30 plebiscite and encouraging them to vote for President Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF.

Speaking on the sidelines of the “Vote First before you Travel” launch at Exor Service Station along Masvingo-Beitbridge Road on Friday last week, Cde Zivhu said President Mnangagwa was in support of cross border trading, as it was sustaining lives of many families in the country and had come up with policies that promoted their businesses.

Cde Zivhu, who is the Zanu-PF Chivi South National Assembly candidate and also the outgoing Chivi Rural District Council chairman, said women constituted the greater fraction of cross border traders.

“We are reminding all cross border traders that they should not travel outside the country on the eve of the election on July 30, as we urge them to wait and cast their vote first,” said Cde Zivhu.

He said there were about 2,5 million cross border traders, mainly women, whose votes were crucial in determining the future of the country and President Mnangagwa’s leadership.

“I know our members would want to cash in on the end of the month, as business improves at this time, but I am making a humble appeal that they should vote before going out,” said Cde Zivhu.

“We all know our President is a tried and tested leader who has improved the lives of cross border traders in a number of ways within a short space of time, since becoming our leader in November last year.

“The one-stop border which he has introduced has made the travelling of our membership to and from the country doing their business easier, as part of easy of doing business.

“Recently, he officially opened a women bank, opening lines of credit for our members who are mainly women. We have over 2,5 million cross border traders in the country and that number is significant in helping Zanu-PF win convincingly if all cast their votes.”

Cde Zivhu said flyers bearing messages on the importance of the July 30 harmonised elections and why the cross border traders should vote for President Mnangagwa were also being distributed in neighbouring countries.

He said most cross border traders were aware of the benefits accrued from voting for President Mnangagwa following campaigns made by leaders of the association at various meetings.

Cde Zivhu also led a campaign to ensure that most of the cross border traders were registered voters.

“We believe that President ED Mnangagwa has what it takes to change our situation,” he said.

“He has already shown that he is capable in the last few months since he took over in November.”