Chronicle Editor
Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter
The ZANU- PF Women’s League yesterday launched a massive face mask sewing project in Matabeleland South during which 13 000 face masks were distributed to the 13 constituencies in the province as part of efforts to fight the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
Each constituency received 1 000 face masks and 50 pieces of material for the production of masks, which were donated by the ruling party’s First Secretary, President Mnangagwa. The masks will be distributed to the public for free.
The face mask project is part of the ruling party’s national Covid-19 awareness programme recently launched in Harare.
The programme has seen more than 90 000 face masks produced from part of the 60 000 metres of cloth provided by the President to help curb the spread of Covid-19.
Speaking during the launch of the face mask sewing project in Gwanda yesterday, Zanu- PF Secretary for the Women’s League Cde Mabel Chinomona said the production of masks among other projects will help women to stay strong during the economic challenges which have worsened due to the pandemic.
She also urged women through their structures to mobilise support for the party to attain five million votes for President Mnangagwa in the 2023 harmonised elections.
Cde Chinomona said the country had recorded tremendous development despite illegal sanctions imposed by Western countries.
“We also have a women’s bank which is part of President ED Mnangagwa’s initiative to economically empower women. All the programmes that are being undertaken by Government under the Second Republic are progressing well despite illegal sanctions imposed on our country by Western countries,” she said.
“We are busy rehabilitating our roads, constructing clinics and reviving our factories using local resources. Government has never failed to pay its civil servants and has been able to meet other financial obligations despite the challenges facing the country including the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Cde Chinomona also applauded President Mnangagwa for expeditiously procuring life-saving coronavirus vaccines to save many lives and drive the country’s economic growth efforts.
“President Mnangagwa’s Government is among top countries that have managed to persistently and timeously procure Covid-19 vaccines. This has been done to ensure that lives are not lost needlessly and to ensure the economy is also saved,” she said.
“Science and statistics show that vaccines prevent critical illness and death. So far, we are on the path to achieving herd immunity, which effectively means that we can safely and fully open our economy and rebuild it.”
Zimbabwe has been making great strides to protect its citizens against the Covid-19 pandemic and has so far procured at least 12 million Covid-19 vaccine doses.
The country is among the top seven in Africa in terms of administering vaccines and has a roll out plan that has so far proved to be the most successful in Southern Africa.
The country’s target is to inoculate a minimum of 10 million people to attain herd immunity.
Cde Chinomona urged communities to continue adhering to Covid-19 health protocols even after vaccination.
The Women’s League also endorsed President Mnangagwa as the Zanu-PF candidate for 2023 elections.
Cde Chinomona urged women to take up political positions in the coming elections
“The largest number of voters are women, but you vote for men from primary elections level. President Mnangagwa pledged to support women to take up political positions,” she said.
“Desist from pulling each other down and hating each other. This time choose and support women. As women it is important to love each other because our struggle is the same.”
Cde Chinomona said the quota system was an indication that women could not lift each other up and having seats reserved for women was an embarrassment.
Speaking at the same event, the League’s Secretary for Administration, Cde Monica Mutsvangwa said the economy is on a rebound under the Second Republic with a number of developmental projects underway.
“We have our children who are economic refugees in other countries. I want to assure you that our President is addressing the economic challenges through industrialisation so that our children can be able to return home and serve their county,” she said.
“President Mnangagwa being the leader of the Second Republic is also addressing the issue of power shortages in the country and as I speak, we have massive thermal power projects in Hwange to sustain us as a country.”
Cde Mutsvangwa, who is also Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, said by 2025 the country would be having enough power for both local consumption and export.
She highlighted various achievements by the Government such as roads rehabilitation, reducing inflation, economic reform and other issues.
“Matabeleland South is characterised by low rainfall and therefore in his wisdom the President came up programmes such as Pfumvudza/Intwasa to address the issue of food security and many farmers across the country received farming inputs resulting in a bumper harvest. Zimbabwe requires 1,7 million tonnes of maize and in the last few years we had food deficit resulting in us importing,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.
“However, due to a good farming season, this time we expect 3,7 million tonnes of grain and this will address the issue of food security in our country.”
Cde Mutsvangwa urged women in Matabeleland South to continue supporting measures being implemented by President Mnangagwa and his Government to restore the country’s economy and the livelihoods of Zimbabweans.
She also urged women in the party’s District Coordinating Committees (DCCs) to mobilise five million voters for the President in 2023 through door-to-door campaigns
Among those who attended the event were Zanu-PF Women’s League top leadership, female Central Committee members, war veterans and the party leadership in Matabeleland South. — @mashnets
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