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Cletus Mushanawani Manicaland Bureau
ZANU-PF leaders have called for unity among members to ensure that the party remains strong in Manicaland.
Speakers during a Zanu-PF Manicaland special co-ordination committee meeting held at Marymount Teachers’ College last weekend underscored the need for unity.
Secretary for Transport and Welfare, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said: “Things are not that bad in Manicaland as some people would like to believe. Yes, there can be differences, but people should always sit down and iron them out.
“The party is greater than individuals. We should use our energy in building the party. We all worked together to ensure victory during the June 10 by-elections in the two constituencies (Headlands and Dangamvura-Chikanga) where the party won. That spirit of unity of purpose should prevail.
“We should have regular meetings so that all issues can be addressed and resolved. The party’s constitution is our Bible. We should not fight for positions and among ourselves. Charity begins at home. Election fever is causing all these noises. Once we have a substantive leadership in the province everything will be normal. We should not waste time fighting for positions.”
In his keynote address, Zanu-PF national secretary for war veterans and collaborators Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, who is in charge of the restructuring exercise in Manicaland, emphasised the need for unity among party members.
“We should look at the real issues that unite us and work on them. Differences can be there, but there are always solutions to them. When we gained our independence in 1980, President Mugabe announced the policy of reconciliation which saw us co-existing with our former enemies including Ian Smith.
“We had an inclusive Government where we worked with the MDCs, so what should stop us from finding each other and work together. Even identical twins have differences.
“We should not forget that the real enemies – MDC, Americans and British – are still out there and closely monitoring developments in our party. We want unity of purpose. We should have one Team Zanu-PF,” he said.
Dr Sekeramayi ordered the province to wind up the restructuring exercise by the end of this month.
In his welcome remarks, Dr Undenge also emphasised on the need to have a united province.
“Let us guard against going back to another Gamatox. Us leaders we should conduct ourselves in a responsible manner.
“Everything is okay at the grassroots, but us leaders are the ones fighting and dividing the party.
“Let us not abuse our power and we should do things according to the dictates of the constitution. We should not badmouth each other,” he said.
Dr Undenge said although restructuring was progressing well, in some districts like Makoni it was being affected by parallel structures, while in Mutare Urban the restructuring exercise is still to commence.
Online Reporter