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Our Senior Reporter Joseph Madzimure (JM) caught up with Chitepo School of Ideology principal Cde Munyaradzi Machacha (MM) to discuss the role played by the institution in terms of equipping party members with Zanu PF’s ideology.
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JM: We have seen a number of groups enrolling at Chitepo School of Ideology with several groups coming up in support of President Mnangagwa’s economic development policies. What does this demonstrate in terms of the ruling party’s popularity?
MM: This is a clear demonstration that all the citizens are now buying the vision of His Excellency President Mnangagwa. Everyone now realises that economic independence and prosperity is within reach only if we use our skills, our time and determination to utilise available God given resources and turn them into wealth. Every sector and profession has realised it has a role to play towards the realisation of achieving the prosperous upper middle income economy by 2030.
The President also has been stating that no one and no place should be left behind. This means that everyone plays a positive role in building an upper middle income economy in Zimbabwe by 2030. We now have lawyers, those in the medical profession and teachers identifying with the vision.
The business community has already organised themselves, the religious leaders, maWindi for ED have all come forward. It has become clear to all these groups that no- one can help us except for ourselves using our strength, intellect and skills. Together we can build a prosperous country.
JM: What motivates these people?
MM: They have been motivated by what is happening in the country. They are seeing the developments taking place in the country especially on infrastructure.
Roads and dams are being constructed by the Second Republic. Local companies are also participating in the construction of the roads and dams. People have also seen the private sector investments that are taking place in the country.
Several mining projects have been established. All these are signs that Zimbabwe is poised for a fast recovery growth. That is giving every individual an urge to participate and play a role towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
JM: What kind of people are enrolling at the institution; in terms of age, gender and educational qualification?
MM: Well, Chitepo School of Ideology is a party school and heritage school to equip people with party virtues and norms. We cater for everyone regardless of gender and educational qualifications.
We are encouraging ordinary people in the rural areas, as much as those at higher learning institutions to enrol.
We cater for all the people of Zimbabwe and we tailor make our courses to meet their needs and capacity to embrace the ideology.
Currently, we are running a course for headmasters and teachers who volunteer to come and participate in a teacher capacity building programme which has several subjects including national ideology.
We also take them through national economy, how it is structured and the National Development Strategy 1 and the achievements of the Second Republic as far as stabilising the economy is concerned.
We also go through international relations, explain the policies of the New Dispensation on engagement and re-engagement and infrastructure that have been made so far among other topics. We also highlight how people can participate in national programmes so they can empower themselves.
In the case of headmasters, we are teaching them on how they can embrace the Education 5.0 including the practical meaning by implementing some of the economic projects within the school environment and creating centres for production.
This will enable teachers to play a role towards economic development of the country. So far we have had 6 000 teachers enrolling for the three-day course.
JM: What are some of the key areas you think Zimbabweans need ideological re-orientation?
MM: We have been independent for 43 years and there was no serious national programme on ideological training and political orientation.
We have generations born after independence who have grown without this ideology.
We have two to three generations born after independence who can easily be persuaded to call for sanctions, to fight their own Government using unconstitutional means thinking that is the right thing to do.
These younger generations do not realise that those sponsoring rebellion have motives such as regime change to put in a place a puppet weak regime in power so that they can loot our resources.
We will be poorer if we allow such people to take control of this country. So we therefore empower our citizens with information and knowledge which will make them independent and be able to defend their country and their national interests.
JM: Can the National Youth Service graduates enrol for Chitepo School of Ideology?
MM: Why not? This programme is for everyone, even the war veterans who have had a chance during the struggle for independence to go under political and ideological training. They can come and refresh their memory, refresh their knowledge and even help to refine our doctrines in line with prevailing economic and political situation in the country. Remember an ideology is not static, its influenced by world and domestic events. It is necessary to keep abreast with development. The war veterans, National Youth Service graduates are all welcome.
JM: Are we likely to see former Cabinet ministers Professor Jonathan Moyo and Mr Patrick Zhuwawo who apologised for associating themselves and using the hashtag ‘Zanu PF Must Go’ (#Zanu PFMustGo) in 2018 being enrolled at Chitepo School of Ideology if they seek re-admission in the party.
MM: Well, I do not know whether, they have asked for re-admission in the party. In the case of Prof Jonathan Moyo and Mr Zhuwawo, we are aware of a letter which they wrote and put in the public domain apologising to members of Zanu PF for the role they played in the last election where they came up with a hashtag “Zanu PF Must Go’ and also when they were supporting Citizen Coalition for Change leader Mr Nelson Chamisa. We felt that they are just clearing their conscience.
They know what they did was something wrong, something reactionary, counter revolutionary and they are apologising to Zanu PF members whom they know to be progressive.
They have not said they want to come back. They have not apologised to the President and First Secretary of the party, but to its members.
Secondly, they know that when you have joined or support another party you automatically expel yourself from the party.
In their case they were expelled by the resolutions of the Central Committee. They know that once you are in that predicament, the only way back is for them to formally write to the party through either the national chairman of Zanu-PF or secretary for administration requesting that they should be re-admitted and then that letter will be put before various committees of the party and finally to the Politburo and Central Committee and they will be formally accepted back or the request may be rejected depending on circumstances.
JM: Thank You sir.
Online Reporter