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This follows the recent disbanding of DCCs and a Politburo directive that former DCC members should be assigned to other duties in the party.
Addressing more than 1 000 Zanu-PF members during the party’s inter-district meeting in Lupane on Sunday, Politburo member Cde Obert Mpofu said the dissolution of DCCs was a blessing as it was going to rejuvenate the revolutionary party ahead of the forthcoming elections.
“DCCs have been abolished because they were fuelling divisions and confusion in the party. A lot of people love Zanu-PF but some leaders were abusing DCCs to impose candidates and achieve selfish interests, which destroyed the party,” said Cde Mpofu drawing thunderous applause from the gathering.
“Zanu-PF is the people’s party and people expect it to deliver. People voted us into power and we must respect them. Let us allow people to participate actively in their party and to choose the leaders they want. We were defeated in some places because of divisions and confusion.
“If people do not want you as a leader phuma ume eceleni. Successful politics starts from the grassroots. Disbanding of DCCs does not mean work has stopped. Let us turn former DCC members into mobilisation teams and let them start working. We have already done that in Umguza,” said Cde Mpofu, who is also the MP for Umguza constituency.
He challenged party members to intensify their mobilisation efforts and ensure that Zanu-PF wins resoundingly in the next elections.
Cde Mpofu also urged people to be patient as the country’s leaders were analysing the draft constitution.
He said the revolutionary party was there to ensure that people’s views were protected in the new constitution and advise them accordingly.
Cde Mpofu challenged party leaders to interact with people all the time, understand their problems and take action when necessary.
This, he said, would make people love the party more and vote for it.
“President Mugabe is our role model. He takes hours listening to people talking. We should not deceive each other. Leaders should be visible and meet people more often not to come when they want votes. People will punish you if you do that,” said Cde Mpofu.
“Vice-President Nkomo sent me here with a message that we should unite in order to succeed. There is no need to hate each other when we are from the same party. You know the kind of suffering we went through because of divisions. The late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo left us united and we should cherish that.”
Acting provincial chairperson Cde Thokozile Mathuthu commended the party members for coming in their large numbers to attend the meeting.
She urged the members to work hard for the party and to spread the message of peace, unity and development that Zanu-PF stands for.
Meanwhile, party members were given the opportunity to air their views on different problems they are facing.
The youths complained that they were not able to access loans under the National Youth Fund.
Others expressed concern over lack of adequate sources of water and discrimination in the distribution of the grain loan scheme.
The elderly demanded that they benefit from the social welfare fund while others called for increased awareness campaigns about the indigenisation programme.
Some villagers said the Government should bring back the Zimbabwean dollar.
Also present at the meeting were Politburo Member and Nkayi North MP Cde Sithembiso Nyoni, Bubi MP Cde Clifford Sibanda, Senator Lot Mbambo of Bubi-Umguza, provincial commissar Cde Jonathan Nkanyezi and Central Committee member Cde Fathi Mpofu.
The party members were drawn from the seven districts — Nkayi, Lupane, Bubi, Hwange, Tsholotsho, Umguza and Binga.
Online Reporter