HARARE - Zanu PF’s “Mr Fix It”, Jabulani Sibanda, is in President Robert Mugabe’s home province of Mashonaland West where he is marshalling support for the party ahead of elections that are expected next year.

The firebrand war veterans leader says he is in the province to boost Zanu PF support.

Contrary to a story that appeared in the Daily News last week which erroneously quoted Sibanda as stating he had met with Mugabe because of the party’s sorry state in the province, the war veterans leader said he had not met with Mugabe on issues besetting the province.

Sibanda said he is in the province to strengthen the party’s fortunes ahead of elections which the Zanu PF leader says should be held next year in March.

The war veterans leader, who takes no prisoners in his campaigns, has reportedly enhanced Zanu PF fortunes in the province where the MDC, Zanu PF fiercest rival, plays second fiddle.

“I am now in Mashonaland West province even when Jesus said “makwayi angu anonzwa izwi rangu” (my sheep heed to my call) he was saying so because he had walked among his people and the people knew his voice and his works.

“I am still in Mashonaland and I will be there building support for the party,” said Sibanda.

During the 2008 harmonised elections Zanu PF won 88,89 percent of the seats in  Mashonaland Central, 82,61 percent in Mashonaland East, 74,07 percent in Midlands and 72,73 percent in Mashonaland West.

During the synchronised elections Tsvangirai’s MDC won 99 of the 210 seats with Zanu PF taking 97, while Industry and Commerce minister Welshman Ncube’s MDC won 10, and an independent candidate won one.

Ironically Zanu PF legislators got more votes than MDC. There was a total of 2 405 147 valid votes cast, with Zanu PF garnering 1 112 773 (46,3 percent), MDC 1 038 512 (43,2 percent), and Ncube-led MDC getting 203 146 (8,4 percent).