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Prosper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
ZANU-PF Politburo member Dr Obert Mpofu yesterday urged the party leadership in Matabeleland North province to shun divisions and unite like their counterparts in Matabeleland South in order to win all the seats in 2018.Addressing members of the provincial coordinating committee (PCC) in Lupane, Dr Mpofu said although the party won the majority of seats in the province, there was room for improvement if party leaders worked as a team.
Zanu-PF won seven seats out of 13 while MDC-T got six.
“Where there is no discipline the party always performs badly. We had problems of discipline in Binga where we suffered the biggest defeat. It was the same in Hwange East and Hwange Central.
“Greed and indiscipline cost us in Hwange where some of our councillors caucused with the enemy and sacrificed the party for expediency,” said Dr Mpofu who spearheaded massive campaigns for the party across the province.
“Matabeleland South won all the seats because they were disciplined. The National Chairman, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, instilled discipline there. The problem is that some people want to win elections as individuals and do not want the party to win.
“We are happy that we won Hwange West and we now have a mayor there. That was a difficult constituency but we made the breakthrough because the leadership in that area worked together. In all the places where we won, the leadership worked together.”
The Umguza legislator reminded the provincial leadership about its mandate to safeguard the interests of the party as explained in its constitution, which upholds unity and discipline.
“The campaign is not over. 2018 is not too far and we have no reason to relax. We should sharpen our ammunition in areas where we lost. Let us go back to Nkayi South, Binga, Tsholotsho North, Hwange East and Central and correct our mistakes,” he said.
“Our defeat in Binga was embarrassing and everyone was looking at me when results were coming in. Let us set our differences aside and focus on building the party. Individualism will not help us.”
Dr Mpofu said the Zanu-PF leadership should work together to develop Matabeleland North and improve the image of the province in the country.
He, however, said the province was developing positively and applauded President Mugabe for appointing several ministers from Matabeleland North.
“I thank you all for the seats we won. Lasikhupha inhloni. We also grateful for the ministerial posts the President gave us. Our senior leaders appreciate our efforts and they honoured us with these positions,” said Dr Mpofu who is the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
“Whoever thought that the Speaker of Parliament could come from here? That is why I shed tears because I was shocked.”
Other ministers from the province are Cdes Sithembiso Nyoni (Small to Medium Enterprises), Cain Mathema (Minister of State for Provincial Affairs), and Professor Jonathan Moyo (Information, Media and Broadcasting Services).
Cde Jacob Mudenda who comes from Binga was elected Speaker of Parliament. The meeting was meant to discuss preparations for the holding of provincial elections ahead of the party’s annual national people’s conference set for December in Chinhoyi.
At the meeting provincial chairman Cde Richard Moyo invited interested candidates to submit their curriculum vitaes for nomination.
Cde Moyo instructed districts to organise meetings in their respective places and nominate suitable candidates who would contest for the posts.
He said eligible candidates were those who have served the party at district level for at least five years and those who were already serving.
Cde Moyo, who was elected last year, expressed interest to contest for the chairmanship post. He said interested candidates should submit their documents before 9 November to ensure timeous printing of ballot papers.
Cde Moyo urged party members to maintain discipline during the process saying the party would not tolerate confusion. He warned that the party would be vigilant to weed out opportunists who were already reported to be canvassing for support in wards and districts to be elected into the provincial structures.
During the discussion party leaders said there was a need to reinforce district structures as well with some indicating that in the run up to elections some members had joined the opposition.
Cde Nyoni said there was a need to field officers for posts of secretaries for technology and tourism.
Online Reporter