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Delegates to Zanu-PF’s 14th Annual National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi yesterday expressed optimism that the party would come up with measures to consolidate the implementation of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation, (ZimAsset).They said implementing the economic blueprint was the only way the country would avert starvation, eradicate unemployment as well as capacitate the public health sector.
Zim Asset is an economic blueprint crafted by the Zanu-PF Government and is expected to drive the national economic agenda for the next five years.
Several delegates who spoke to The Herald said people expected the party to come up with resolutions that would ensure the Government boosted standards of living.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Matabeleland North, Cde Cain Matema, said: “Matabeleland North Province is celebrating with all other provinces the victory of Zanu-PF in the July 31 harmonised elections and against the forces of imperialists, the two MDCs.
“We want to congratulate the President (Cde Mugabe) and Zanu-PF. We are confident that the party is going to come up with some resolutions that will ensure that we fulfil all the promises made during our campaigns. We want to ensure that Zim Asset is implemented for the benefit of the people. Already, some of the issues in the document are being implemented, for example, one on the clusters on food security.”
Cde Matema said it was his hope that infrastructure projects like road construction in Lupane, Siphepha and Gwayi-Shangani project, Lupane Hospital and Lupane State University would be completed as they were already running behind schedule.
War veterans leader and Central Committee member Cde Andy Mhlanga said Zim Asset was going to provide some solutions to the country’s problems.
“Now that we are alone (in Government), we expect to make the economy vibrant. We have to deliver all the promises we made to the people that are contained in Zim Asset,” he said.
The party’s Matabeleland South provincial chairman Cde Andrew Langa said Zim Asset was supposed to top the agenda of the conference and urged the party to ensure that any resolutions passed would be fully implemented.
“All of us as a country need to come up with solutions to the country’s problems,” he added.
Politburo member Cde Sydney Sekeramayi weighed in saying: “We should make sure that we implement Zim Asset. We need to ensure that there is food for our people. The farming inputs should be made available to the people on time.”
Politburo member and Women’s League political commissar Cde Olivia Muchena said it was imperative for the party and the people to remain connected.
“The most important issue is for the party to ensure that the victory gained is consolidated through the implementation of the Zim Asset,” she said.
Central Committee member Cde Claudius Makova said he expected Zanu-PF to address economic issues.
“We must look at the Zim Asset document and guide Government in addressing the economy,” he said.
“We want the party to implement the winning manifesto. Now is the time for people to be empowered, that is the youth, women and the disadvantaged, and make sure that power always resides with Zanu-PF.”
Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube said he hoped the deliberations would focus on addressing the economic challenges facing Zimbabwe.
“The Zim Asset has laid a foundation for that,” he said.
Central Committee member Cde Nyasha Chikwinya said Zanu-PF had just won a resounding election and must now focus on implementing Zim Asset and achieving the Millenium Development Goals.
Politburo member Cde Nelson Mawema, said the people expected party leadership to live “above corruption,” which he said had destroyed many countries.
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