By Lungile Siziba
Despite spirited efforts of the country’s detractors, ZANU PF and the people of Zimbabwe are moving and working together well, President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In addition, the revolutionary party is in safe hands under the leadership headed by the President, his deputies and other senior officials.
In his keynote address while officially opening the 21st ZANU PF Annual National People’s Conference in Bulawayo recently, President Mnangagwa, who is also the party’s First Secretary, said: “Under our watch, as this generation of leaders, our ZANU PF party is in safe hands. ZANU PF and the people of Zimbabwe are one.
“We are singing one national anthem, flying one national flag and working hard towards the attainment of our national Vision 2030 for the prosperity, modernisation, industrialisation and development of our beloved motherland.”
However, President Mnangagwa said party systems must be tightened and insulated against infiltration by divisive elements and malcontents that have no regard for the political order guaranteed by the supreme party constitution.
ZANU PF is a creature of the constitution and in all its operations, it follows the supreme law to the letter, said President Mnangagwa.
“In ZANU PF, we toe the correct line of the revolution. There is no room for ideological indecisiveness,” he said.
Party marches on
The 20th ZANU PF National Conference was held last year in Gweru and since then, the party has continued to flex its organisational prowess and dominance of the national political landscape as demonstrated by strong victories by-elections held after last August’s harmonised general elections.
ZANU PF now has a commanding lead in the National Assembly and Senate after winning the lion’s share of by-elections held since late last year.
Despite the successes, President Mnangagwa wants the party to continue to strengthen its structures and expressed concern over the challenges in some party structures.
“I am aware that in some districts, chaotic records of members are deliberate and preferred by those holding party positions to gain favour or advantage over others,” he said.
“This is unacceptable and must stop. Party structures are critical for a strong foundation of the revolution. We should guard against infiltration into the structures and not destroy the structures.”
The President also commended party wings namely, the Women’s League, Youth League and War Veterans League, for being instrumental in the revolutionary party’s mobilisation drive.
He commended the successful holding of the War Veterans League congress in Gweru recently which brought a new leadership chaired by Cde Cephas Ncube.
Zimbabwe being built brick-by-brick
The annual conference ran under the theme, “Industrialise and Modernise Towards the Attainment of Vision 2030”, indicating the party’s thrust to continue transforming the economy.
President Mnangagwa said it was important that time-bound and structured solutions be proffered, sector by sector, for the continued development of the country.
“We are a party of results, hence, the need to continually sharpen our party’s policies,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Strategies in this regard must remain robust and people-centred.
“Therefore, the conference has the obligation to recommit our party, to deepening grassroots engagement and mobilisation, for both party building and scaling up production and productivity, as well as the implementation of projects.”
President Mnangagwa said step-by-step, brick-upon-brick and stone-upon-stone, the mission, aims and objectives of the colossal party ZANU PF, are being realised, and in so doing, consolidating the gains of the country’s hard-won independence, national unity and peace.
Dam construction continues
President Mnangagwa said the construction of new dams is ongoing.
“Lapha ko Bulawayo sizawaletha amanzi from the Gwayi-Shangani Dam and shame the prophets of doom,” he said.
“Equally, our ZANU PF Government shall deliver water to Harare from Kunzvi Dam.”
The water from the dams will not only be channelled towards clean water supply needs for people in urban areas such as Bulawayo and Harare, but will also be directed towards irrigation to boost food security.
President Mnangagwa also told delegates that infrastructure development targeting the construction and maintenance of national road networks will continue.
“Our focus is now on upgrading the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls and Harare-Chirundu roads, among others,” he said.
Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway has been completed, except for a few bridges, in a development that has excited motorists, some of whom had become scared to use the road due to the number of accidents that used to occur.
Many other roads, even in rural areas and high-density areas in urban areas, have been revamped by the Second Republic.
