Chronicle Editor
George Maponga Masvingo Bureau
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has described the Zanu-PF leadership as a key cog in the revolutionary party’s bid to win next year’s harmonised elections.
Speaking at Mupandawana Growth Point on Saturday at the memorial service of the late Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister and national heroine Senator Shuvai Mahofa, the Vice President said Masvingo Province was renowned for its overwhelming support for Zanu-PF. He, however, challenged the provincial leadership to work hard and make sure President Mugabe and Zanu-PF win resoundingly during next year’s elections.
“When it comes to politics, Masvingo is one of the key pillars of our party, Zanu-PF because of the level of support for the party here. It has been common knowledge that this province is a one party state and my appeal is for you to remain united and deliver sweeping victory for our President and party in next year’s elections,” he said. VP Mnangagwa said the ruling party national leadership remained satisfied with the state of Zanu-PF in Masvingo Province which was a traditional party stronghold. He said unity was the cornerstone of success and exhorted the provincial leadership led by chairman Cde Ezra Chadzamira to foster unity and maintain Zanu-PF’s dominance in the province.
“Let us always work together and remain united. I want you to know that trouble-causers will always be there. President Mugabe knows that Masvingo is a key pillar in Zanu-PF,” he said.
“There are others who would go to the national leadership of the party and say lies about developments in the party in Masvingo, but whatever they say is ignored. It gets through one ear and goes out through the other because it is a known fact that Masvingo is a one-party state.” He added: “Not all who act as Zanu-PF cadres are true cadres at heart, some of them are hypocrites.” Turning to Senator Mahofa, VP Mnangagwa lauded the late heroine describing her as a forthright and committed leader with a well-known track record of fighting for the development of the country. He said even some serving commanders in Zimbabwe’s security services who were active during the liberation struggle always recounted how they closely worked with the late national heroine in the struggle to free Zimbabwe.
“Even in our party’s supreme decision making body, the Politburo, Senator Mahofa was one of the key members, who always made meaningful contributions and I was proud to have shared the table with her in such forums. She was fearless and always stood for the truth,” he said.
VP Mnangagwa said the only way Masvingo could pay homage to Senator Mahofa was to make sure that the ruling party records a runaway victory in next year’s harmonised elections. Gutu Central legislator and Zanu-PF Chief Whip said the ruling party leadership would work round the clock to make sure all the 26 House of Assembly seats remain in the ruling party hands in honour of the late Senator Mahofa. Cde Matuke asked VP Mnangagwa to convey the province’s gratitude to President Mugabe for granting national heroine status on Senator Mahofa.
He said it was only befitting for Senator Mahofa to be laid to rest alongside other iconic luminaries at the national shrine, who hailed from Masvingo, such as the late Vice President Dr Simon Muzenda, veteran nationalist Cde Eddison Jonas Mudadirwa Zvobgo, Retired General Vitalis Musungwa Zvinavashe among others. Senator Mahofa, who was affectionately known as the “Iron Lady of Masvingo” died on August 14 at Makurira Memorial Hospital in Masvingo having battled poor health since 2015.
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