Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
ZANU-PF Matabeleland South provincial chairman, Cde Mangaliso Ndlovu, has urged district-level party leadership to focus on strengthening structures at grassroots level as part of strategies for the revolutionary party to retain dominance and effectively implement its development agenda.
Speaking during an inter-district meeting in Gwanda South Constituency held at Manama on Saturday, Cde Ndlovu said the party at provincial level cannot be strong if districts and constituencies are weak.
He stressed the need for the party to maintain its clean sweep in Matabeleland South in the next elections. Cde Ndlovu noted that Zanu-PF legislators in the province were struggling to roll out development initiatives in wards controlled by opposition councillors, where they faced resistance.
The party has rolled out inter-district meetings across constituencies to allow provincial leaders to engage with grassroots leadership.
The meetings aim to capture grievances of party members within each constituency, identify gaps and devise strategies to strengthen the party.
Cde Ndlovu said some constituencies once regarded as Zanu-PF strongholds were now lagging behind.
“When we look at Gwanda South Constituency as the province, we see a constituency which has stood firm, ensuring that Zanu-PF retains the parliamentary seat in every election since 2003. We also knew that the majority of councillors from this constituency belonged to Zanu-PF.
“What is concerning is that in the last elections the President had low votes. Out of the 11 wards in Gwanda South Constituency, five belong to the opposition. When the local MP, Dr Omphile Marupi, tries to implement development in these five wards, he faces difficulties as the development and leadership chain has been broken,” he said.
Cde Ndlovu said that having leadership from the same party ensures smooth communication and service delivery.
“When a village head or branch chairman records a grievance from the community, they can take it to the councillor, who then passes it on to the MP. The MP will then escalate the matter further. Dr Marupi is facing challenges in initiating development across the entire constituency due to resistance from opposition-led wards,” he said.
He said these anomalies must be rectified in the next elections as they stall the party’s development drive aimed at empowering citizens.
Cde Ndlovu added that the meeting was also a platform to reflect on the performance of local leadership over the past two years since the 2023 elections. He emphasised that feedback from the grassroots is crucial for strengthening the party and ensuring future victories.
“Feedback is important to us as party leadership. We want to know whether you are satisfied with projects being implemented by Government, the local MP or the party under the DCC.
“You represent people at household level, and we want to hear what they are saying and what they need. We also want your input on how we can strengthen the party. Zanu-PF is a people-centred party that prioritises a bottom-up approach,” he said.
Cde Ndlovu said Government is formed by the people, and their views are vital.
“As grassroots leaders, we have an important role in ensuring service delivery reaches the people. We are ambassadors of the party, Government and His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Let us rise to the task and ensure we retain our influence in this constituency.
“As a unified party, we should not rest if we lose even one seat. If we have a ward we lost, let us all go there and work to regain it. We should never relax when we know we lost votes. Our focus must remain on strengthening the party,” he said.
Cde Ndlovu concluded by calling for loyal cadres who prioritise service over positions, expressing concern over candidates who contest as independents after losing in party primaries. —@DubeMatutu
