60 youths rewarded with stands for endorsing term extension

ZimEye reports that nearly 60 ZANU PF youths in Bikita were allocated residential and commercial stands after endorsing President Mnangagwa's term extension at a rally, which allows him to stay in power beyond 2028. The allocation was made by local authorities in Bikita district in a move that critics say rewards political loyalty and undermines democratic processes. Local accounts reveal the allocation as a direct reward for political loyalty, reinforcing patronage networks, and the stands are in a prime location, increasing their value. This practice is common in Zimbabwe's ruling party, where public resources are used to secure support. This transactional governance undermines democratic processes and entrenches a system where public goods are exchanged for political support, deepening Zimbabwe's crisis of legitimacy, threatening political stability, eroding public trust, and is a hallmark of authoritarian governance.