Development focus of Zanu-PF lures more opposition members

THE organisational integrity and development focus of Zanu-PF has endeared the party with the masses to the extent of enticing senior opposition members who have joined the revolutionary movement and have been integrated into the party as full-time cadres deployed to various duties.

Zanu-PF national political commissar, Dr Mike Bimha, said this in Bulawayo yesterday where he revealed that former members of the opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change party who have seen the light were now assisting the party in co-ordinating the increasing numbers of opposition members that are joining the ruling team.

Former Kwekwe Central legislator Mr Blessing Chebundo and the wife of the former Binga North legislator Mr Prince Dubeko Sibanda, Mrs Memory Sibanda, are now based at the party headquarters in Harare.

Dr Bimha, who visited the city to take stock of the province’s preparations for next month’s by-elections in six constituencies from four provinces, said Zanu-PF was confident of yet another resounding victory.

The by-elections will be held in Pelandaba-Tshabalala constituency in Bulawayo, Mkoba North in the Midlands, Chegutu West and Zvimba East in Mashonaland West while in Mashonaland East by-elections will be in Seke and Goromonzi South.

Cde Bimha said people-driven programmes and economic development policies under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa have charmed the electorate including members of the opposition.

“Zanu-PF is becoming stronger and stronger with each passing day. As a result of this, we continue to have new members joining us. We have since employed two full-time former members of the opposition to coordinate the coming on board of disgruntled opposition members, these members are Mr Chebundo (Blessing) and Memory (Mrs Sibanda),” he said.

He said in 2023, Zanu-PF experienced a surge in new members who felt that they were not very comfortable in getting into party structures but comfortable in supporting the party through joining its various affiliates where they organise themselves under the banner of the President and economic development policies.

On the upcoming elections, Cde Bimha said the responsibility to campaign is squarely on the provincial leadership with support from other members of the party.

“I am glad that this has progressed well here in Bulawayo province, our visit today was for us to take stock of the preparations that have been put in place by the provincial leadership so that we have an idea of where we are, what they still need to do and any assistance that they would want to get from Zanu-PF headquarters,” he said.

“As I said earlier on, I am happy to report that there is pleasing progress in terms of the work that has been done by the teams that are co-ordinated by the provincial leadership.

“It is pleasing that they have been working as a team and there is unity of purpose, putting all efforts together to make sure that come February 3, our candidate will romp to victory.”

Cde Joseph Tshuma is the party candidate for the Pelandaba-Tshabalala constituency. Cde Bimha said it was pleasing that Cde Tshuma has been working with the campaign teams since last year and has been going around overseeing preparations throughout all the polling stations in the constituency.

“I would want to appeal to our membership, supporters to come in their numbers and vote for our candidate. Normally in our experience, by-elections are not as popular as harmonised general elections but are as important as the general elections,” said Dr Bimha.

“We are happy that as a party we do have very strong structures and whenever we have a proclamation for the by-elections, we are always ready.

Cde Tshuma, who was in Parliament between 2015-2018, said he learnt a lot as he had gone there before as a novice with a lot of misconceptions.

“I was one of the people who was always saying Government was not developing Matabeleland region but when I got there I discovered that it wasn’t the case. Instead, it is the people that we send as Members of Parliament who are not demanding and bringing development to Matabeleland,” he said.

“Government is always ready and willing to develop any place and now the Second Republic has come up with a philosophy that no one and no place is left behind. What this means is that we now need to have people that will go to Parliament and demand resources to develop our region,” said Cde Tshuma.

He said he decided to go back to Parliament after realising that since he left, there has been no progress after they elected people whose business was just to make noise in Parliament and insult the President instead of discussing issues of substance.

“There are a lot of services that the people need but those services are not coming and people blame Zanu-PF. Right now as I speak, I have managed to convince the Government to avail a borehole drilling machine and three boreholes have been sunk in the constituency,” said Cde Tshuma.

“I have started working for the constituency even before I have been elected because I am a hands-on person.”