Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure-Mutare Bureau
ZANU PF national chairman Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri yesterday castigated critics of Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 and described them as disingenuous for implying that the Constitution can only be amended through a referendum.
Addressing thousands of Zanu PF supporters during the Buhera Central Constituency victory celebrations for Cde Samson Matema at Dzapasi Assembly Point in Buhera, Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said the Constitution has been amended through Parliament before.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also the Minister of Defence, was accompanied by Ministers Monica Mavhunga, Jenfan Muswere and Misheck Mugadza, national political commissar Cde Munyaradzi Machacha and provincial chairman Cde Tawanda Mukodza.
“Support Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 because it is implementing Resolution Number 1, which came from you, and was adopted at the last two conferences,” she said.
“It is not true that a Constitution cannot be amended because we have been doing that. A Constitution can be amended, and when you do that, you do not amend one thing. We want to extend the election cycle not terms, to make the President serve seven years.
“I chaired the consecutive conferences where Resolution Number 1 to extend the President’s stay in office to 2030 was tabled. I asked if there was anyone with a contrary view, and there was deafening silence, meaning the house was agreeable. Five years will end in 2028, and then we will add two more years to 2030, making it seven years.”
She went on to warn divisive party members, urging discipline, and to learn humility and loyalty from President Mnangagwa, who endured a lot of humiliation and poisoning in the last days of the First Republic.
“When a country is peaceful, investors will come to invest and develop the country,” Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
“The same applies to the province, when there is peace, people will come and invest. Who will invest in your province when you are fighting over crumbs? We want peace in Manicaland.
Do not engage in petty fights, and in fact, we will force you to unite and work together. Unity. Peace and development is the gospel that is being preached by the President.
“ZANU PF doesn’t fit in your pocket. If you try it, you won’t survive, it will mow you down. Comrades, we need discipline, and as leaders, at what levels, desist from corruption, greed, and blocking others from empowerment opportunities. Some of you were given party cars, but you don’t offer lifts to other party members. What kind of behaviour is that?”
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri, further rebuked party members burning midnight candles plotting and gossiping to her about their rivals, stressing that going forward she would expose such divisive characters.
She called on members to be content with their positions, and work assiduously to grow the party, and desist from being overambitious and nursing petty grudges.
“The national political commissar is there for conflict liaison and management in the event of differences, and members should not wash their dirty linen in public,” she said.
“A united ZANU PF is one we want, promoting business growth and economic development. If you work hard, you do not have time to fight with people. The President is working to develop the country, winning accolades and admiration from detractors, and foreigners who are coming to learn how the President is doing it, but you are busy fighting and pulling the nation down.
“We no longer have inflation and money changers in the streets. Why don’t you admire and replicate the good things that the President is doing? Work hard to earn foreign currency. Look, Buhera is the driest district in the country, but it now has piped water schemes.
“Well done Buhera, we need MPs that work hard like Cde Samson Matema. I will be visiting all constituencies in Manicaland to assess performances of MPs because some of you are sleeping on duty, and are putting the party in danger of losing the next elections.”
She said President Mnangagwa was drilling boreholes, and Buhera Central now has 42 solar-powered boreholes and Village Business Units.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri also called for the value addition and beneficiation of lithium being mined in Buhera, to manufacture lithium batteries and resultantly electric cars.
She cited some of the infrastructure development programmes underway, including the second interchange being constructed at Mabvuku turn-off, Christmas Pass Bypass, and Manicaland International Airport, revival of the National Railways of Zimbabwe
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said the Zimbabwe National Army is now working on setting up a construction company that will soon take over the construction of some of the roads in the country.
She said a district health referral centre, high school, vocational training centre and other supporting infrastructure will be established at Dzapasi Assembly Point.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri also handed over donations of 2 000 food hampers, flour, rice, laptops, cement and wheelchairs from President Mnangagwa to the elderly and learners in the constituency.
She also bemoaned drug and substance abuse, which has become pervasive also in rural areas, warning rural businesspeople against supplying drugs, as they will be arrested and shamed.
She said the Government is responding to the scourge by establishing rehabilitation centres in all districts to help victims.
