By Talent Gondo | Zanu Pf has taken its election campaign to first time voters from the Muslim community in Zimbabwe, most of whom have in the past been classified as aliens.

However, these so called ‘aliens’ were last year granted the opportunity to vote in the forthcoming poll by a High Court Judge, Justice Nyaradzo Munangati-Manongwa in November 2017.

Justice Munangati- Manongwa ruled in favour of the aliens and ordered the Registrar-General’s Office to allow them to register to vote during the biometric voter registration (BVR) exercise provided they produce their identification documents and proof of residence.

Zanu Pf leadership, led by Vice President, Kembo Mohadi, met the Muslim community at the City Sports Center in Harare where the party made a litany of promises including establishing Muslim health centers and setting aside prayer areas for Muslims at public places such as hotels and airports.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Vice President, Mohadi, President Emmerson Mnangagwa made a plea for the Muslim community to vote for him and Zanu Pf in the forthcoming elections, adding that his party was aware of their social, economic and religious needs which would be addressed once voted back into power.

“We know that you have a right to freedom of worship as enshrined ib the Constitution. We also understand that your religion requires that your pregnant women are not attended to by males,” he said, promising the establishment of Muslim health centers.

The Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe pledged support for Zanu Pf in the forthcoming polls revealing that over 500 000 Muslims, most of whom were first time voters and who had registered to vote during the BVR exercise would vote for Mnangagwa and Zanu Pf.