HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party has set in motion a plan to milk and “steal” votes from President Robert Mugabe.

With Mugabe and his Zanu PF party sharpening their election machine which includes freebies such as seed, fertiliser and foodstuffs, the MDC has told supporters to join the bandwagon for the handouts-but then dump the 88-year-old on election day.

“People should get whatever Mugabe gives them, these are our resources, we will not allow Zanu PF to play such a failed political gimmick,” said Douglas Mwonzora, MDC’s spokesperson.

“Zanu PF wants us to believe they have money to buy those inputs when in fact they are looting our resources.

“We know that these inputs Mugabe is giving out are from our diamonds, which is the reason we are saying go and take whatever they bring, but don’t vote for him,” Mwonzora said.

Mugabe has been dishing out maize seed and other goods to his party members as a way of canvassing for support in the next polls.

The donations are also meant to lure new supporters following the party’s 2008 poor showing.

Mwonzora told the Daily News that farming inputs being distributed by Zanu PF officials should benefit all Zimbabweans despite one’s political affiliation.

“People should go and collect those seeds and food stuffs being donated by Zanu PF and its ministers especially the minister of mines (Obert Mpofu). We have since realised that the money being used is from our diamonds.

“We can’t allow Zanu PF to exploit the people of Zimbabwe by enjoying benefits from our diamonds while our supporters suffer,” he said.

Mpofu, whose ministry overseas Marange fields, has been donating maize seed in Umguza district.

The mines minister has been accused by the MDC of looting proceeds from Marange diamonds, allegations he denies and challenges.

According to Zanu PF, the farming inputs being given to its supporters were sourced from well-wishers.

Mugabe told a recent Zanu PF gathering in Bindura that those crying foul about the input scheme were “misguided.”

He said while his party was busy fundraising for the inputs, other political parties were “chasing after women,” in apparent reference to Tsvangirai, who was in the limelight for his sex escapades.

“This is what we usually do, but other people are shocked, maybe it is because they spend their time chasing after girls,” Mugabe said. - Xolisani Ncube