Online Reporter
Joseph Madzimure
Zimpapers Politics Hub
ZANU PF Secretary for the Commissariat, Cde Munyaradzi Machacha, yesterday said the governing party has registered 437 000 defectors from opposition parties under its ongoing “Huyai Kumusha uyanini Ekhaya/Come Home” campaign.
In an interview, Cde Machacha said the ruling party has established a specific returnees’ department within the Commissariat to accommodate and account for individuals coming from the opposition.
He said returnees were being encouraged to take up positions within party cells immediately.
“Just this year alone, we have received not less than 187 000 people returning to the party, in addition to the 250 000 we had previously received,” said Cde Machacha.
“We can see that this is a massive mass movement away from bankrupt opposition politics to empowering, development-oriented Zanu PF politics.”
The “Huya Kumushauyanini Ekhaya /Come Home” campaign has seen a number of former prominent opposition figures joining Zanu PF, including Collins Tsvangirai, brother of the late Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) founder, Morgan Tsvangirai.
“It is something that we are really proud of — all because of President Mnangagwa’s wise leadership and his skilful handling of both governance and economic issues,” said Cde Machacha.
The large numbers of former opposition members joining the party signal a new chapter in Zimbabwean politics.
Cde Machacha expressed optimism that the ruling party will consolidate its position due to its sound policies, which are becoming increasingly attractive even to opposition members.
“Naturally, Zanu PF will continue to grow and eventually become an unlegislated one-party state again as we wait for the emergence of opposition politics,” he stated.
He expressed confidence in the national development trajectory.
“We are quite happy and believe that as we launched NDS1 and NDS2, the pattern of economic growth, the pattern of modernisation and industrialisation that has taken place in NDS1 will continue, and that our economy will continue to grow and that the people’s welfare and livelihoods will continue to improve.”
Cde Machacha challenged all party structures to embrace the returnees and ensure their accommodation within their cells and committees.
