Addressing thousands of delegates at the official opening of the 23rd ZANU PF National People’s Conference at the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) yesterday, Vice President Chiwenga reminded the party faithful that they were gathered on sacred ground. The Chinhoyi Battle of 28 April 1966, he noted, was the definitive spark that ignited the Second Chimurenga and altered the course of history.
“With boundless pride and solemn reverence, we remember the seven ZANLA heroes who fought with fearless distinction and paid the ultimate price just a few kilometres from this venue,” VP Chiwenga said. “Their sacrifice was, and remains, an indispensable pillar of Zimbabwe’s independence, freedom, and sovereignty.”
From Mutare to Chinhoyi: Sustaining the Revolutionary Spirit
Reflecting on the party’s ideological journey, VP Chiwenga recalled the 22nd National People’s Conference held in Mutare last year, where the revolutionary party anchored its deliberations on core values such as:
• Unity and discipline
• Patriotism and integrity
• Commitment and selfless service
He noted that while the previous year focused on internal alignment and value systems, the current gathering in Mashonaland West marks a decisive shift towards accelerated national development.
A Call for Tangible Results
Aligning his address with the conference’s main agenda, VP Chiwenga implored party members to fully embrace this year’s theme: “From Resolutions to Results: Consolidating Economic Development and Deepening Empowerment Towards Vision 2030.”
He challenged delegates to move away from mere rhetoric and focus on practical implementation that positively impacts ordinary citizens.
“This theme calls upon us to move beyond deliberation and declarations to tangible, measurable, and transformative outcomes that improve the lives of our people,” he said.
Concluding his address, the Vice President formally introduced the Guest of Honour, ZANU PF First Secretary and President, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, to deliver his keynote address and officially open the conference, solidifying the party’s unified march toward an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
