adminSchool last night.
The format of the meeting was different from all traditional Zanu-PF meetings with Cde Shamu asking the people to air their grievances before he addressed them.
Party supporters from each of Epworth’s 25 districts were asked to air their views, complaints and possible solutions to their problems.
The meeting was held in a record 25 minutes to allow the people to attend to their own chores. The major issues raised by the speakers were the need for identity and proof of residence documents. They complained about poor roads, intra-party factionalism, nepotism and favouritism by the party leadership among others. Squatters complained that they were harassed by people who claimed to be the original settlers of Epworth.
They recommended that Government regularise their settlement.
Others said their residential stands were too small and not suitable for family life.
Cde Shamu was told of poor roads, lack of electricity and high levels of unemployment.
He directed each party structure to hold meetings and “tabulate” issues affecting them for forwarding to the party leadership.
He said people who will represent Zanu-PF at the stakeholders meeting on the new constitution should defend the inclusion of the people’s views in Zimbabwe’s supreme law.
Cde Shamu said the constitution drafters threw out the people’s views and replaced them with input from colonialists.
He gave the example of lack of clarity on gay rights as an affront to the people’s views.
Cde Shamu promised to attend to the issues raised during the meeting.
The meetings that have been lined up for all suburbs in Harare are aimed at bringing the party leadership close to the people and get firsthand experience of the people’s views.
Meanwhile, Zanu-PF has warned the electorate to vote against the MDC formations in the general elections as they have destroyed most urban local authorities through looting of resources. Addressing party supporters in Chitungwiza, Zanu-PF secretary for Environment and Tourism Cde Francis Nhema said MDC-T councillors were prioritising self-enrichment at the expense of service delivery.
“Vote wisely when we go for the elections because by now everyone has seen the calibre of councillors we have in the MDC-T.
“They have destroyed everything yet they are accumulating a lot of wealth,” he said.
Cde Nhema urged party supporters to start preparations for the second all stakeholders conference and defend the Zanu-PF audited draft constitution.
“We are going to stand by our audited draft constitution and your participation is also important.
“The party’s position is very clear. We want the people’s views to be seen and this is the time to do so,” he said.
Zanu-PF members, Cde Nhema said, should register as voters and participate in the general elections.
“Most of you present at this event might not be registered and this time we want everyone to be a registered voter. Your vote counts,” he said.
He urged party supporters to join housing cooperatives for them to own decent accommodation.
“The party is committed to seeing all of us owning houses and this can be possible through these cooperatives,” he said.
Several central committee members also attended the meeting.
Online Reporter