adminThe city has sprung to life and indeed there are high expectations that the conference, aptly themed “Defend National Sovereignty, Consolidate Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment”, will come up with sound resolutions that will not only rejuvenate Zanu-PF and gear it for polls set for next year, but also conclude the unfinished business of economically empowering the majority of Zimbabweans and take our country to the next level.
Zanu-PF is a revolutionary party that not only brought about the country’s independence from colonial bondage, but has the interests of people at heart. It is the only party that has managed to unite all Zimbabweans regardless of tribe, colour, creed and religious persuasion
Right now, the country is in the middle of another revolution to economically empower the masses of Zimbabwe who have for years stood on the sidelines as their resources were plundered and pillaged by foreign looters.
In spite of the sanctions imposed on the country by the Western powers led by Britain and America after it embarked on the land reform programme in 2001 aimed at addressing the skewed land ownership patterns in the country, the party has soldiered on in its bid to ensure total empowerment of the majority.
There is no doubt, therefore, that agriculture, which is the backbone of the country, and economic empowerment, will be high on top of the agenda of the party’s conference.
The party therefore has to come up with ways of supporting agriculture because despite the sector being crucial to the development of the country, it has not received meaningful financial support from the inclusive Government. Farmers from all corners of the country are crying foul and want this issue resolved once and for all.
As has been said on numerous fora, Zanu-PF and its partners in the inclusive Government are pulling in different directions and nowhere is this more pronounced than on issues to do with agricultural support and economic empowerment programmes. There has been discordant voices when it comes to key policy issues and the sooner this is dealt with the better for the country.
As we have said before, economic empowerment is here to stay and there is no going back. Over the past few weeks, President Mugabe has traversed the country launching community share ownership trusts aimed at ensuring that Zimbabweans enjoy from the proceeds of their resources. Again noone doubts that Zanu-PF is spearheading this people-centred programme.
It is also our hope that the issue of relocation of companies from Bulawayo, the so-called marginalisation of Matabeleland, the region’s perennial water problems and the cross-rating of currencies will be debated and that lasting solutions would be found. This is because people from this region have grappled with these issues over the past years with seemingly no lasting solution in sight. They want answers and want them now.
On the political front, we expect the party to address issues affecting its smooth operations as the country heads for elections set for next year. With the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee having begun drafting the constitution which should be complete in 35 days leading to a referendum thereafter, the stage is set for an election.
Zanu-PF needs to go back to the drawing board and correct mistakes of 2008 which resulted in a hung Parliament and an election run-off that in the end saw it entering a marriage of convenience with the MDC formations. This marriage is not unworkable and a number of Government programmes are in limbo.
There must be thorough soul searching and candid debate within the party as we move forward.
The party needs to guard jealously the gains made over the years and avoid pitfalls such as imposition of candidates on the electorate. The people must be allowed to choose their own candidates without fear or favour. As delegates gather to take stock of the year gone by and strategise for the coming year, they must remember that the party carries a lot on its shoulders and the conference’s resolutions will have a bearing not only on party members but the entire nation.
Online Reporter