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Cde Mutasa was accompanied by the party’s Political Commissar, Cde Webster Shamu, war veterans leader Cde Jabulani Sibanda and Cde Rugare Gumbo, the party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity.
The team is on a national tour of all the provinces briefing party members on the decision to dissolve the DCCs.
Cde Jorum Gumbo, the party’s chief whip described the decision as “painful” and “unceremonious”.
He said the members who had been elected into the DCCs had people who supported them who were bound to question the rationale behind the dissolution of the party structure.
“The decision to dissolve DCCs was unceremonious. It was painful. We will need to work really hard in restructuring our party as the people that we had elected into the DCCs have people who support them. However, when elders speak we are not supposed to question or interrogate them,” said Cde Gumbo.
Other members said the dissolution of DCCs would weaken the party, arguing that the DCCs were key in Zanu-PF in the 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2008 election victories.
Cde Mutasa dismissed the argument.
“We have more than a thousand officials in a district. If they fail to get to the people, then who will? We decided to dissolve them now because it is only now that they lost direction. In the past they would work for the party. Now DCC members are working for their selfish interests,” he said.
Cde Mutasa urged those who were contesting the decision to present their concerns to the Central Committee.
Zanu-PF Midlands chairman Cde Jason Machaya told the meeting that serving the party was supreme to individual interests.
He said party members should not draw joy from their colleagues when they lose elections within the party.
“DCCs were only a structure meant to promote the party’s growth at a certain phase. Kubva pachigaro hakusi kubva muparty (losing a position does not amount to being expelled from the party). In fact, ordinary party members are more important than officials. They have the power to elect you into office or to vote you out. There is a culture of mocking those who lose posts. That is a culture that is alien to our party, Zanu-PF. We do not want people who draw joy from the defeat of fellow comrades in a primary or any intra-election,” said Cde Machaya. He said party members should appreciate that as members they could make recommendations while the leadership was there to give directives.
Cde Shamu described the dissolution of the DCCs as “another level of the party’s transformation” process. He urged members to be disciplined and focused when working for the party.
“This phase of our party’s transformation calls for discipline. There are no more DCCs that you used to hide behind when not working. You now need to go to the people direct and work really hard,” said Cde Shamu.
Cde Sibanda said Zanu-PF was forging ahead with its restructuring as the DCCs had become overweight within the structures of the revolutionary party.
He said the removal of the DCCs would enable the smooth running of the party.
“The decision to dissolve the DCCs is a result of the amendment of the constitution. The restructuring is not limited to elections alone. It gives the executive more control of the party. Let me point out that DCCs were not executives but just district coordinating committees.
“We are in full support of the restructuring exercise as war veterans as we are members of the party and we are bound by the party constitution,” he said.
Zanu-PF politburo member Cde Cephas Msipa called on all party members to work towards a common vision and goal for the party’s prosperity. He said all party members should work as a team.
“We should all agree that this thing should work and I assure you it will work. I have confidence that the decision to end DCCs will bear fruit only if we work as a team,” said Cde Msipa.
Today the team will visit Bulawayo and Matabeleland North provinces. Tomorrow it will be in Matabeleland South.
Zanu-PF provincial leaders from the three provinces confirmed the meetings in separate telephone interviews.
“We will be having a Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC) meeting tomorrow at Davies Hall. You are aware that the DCCs have been dissolved and the senior leadership is coming to explain the resolution to us and how the party will move forward,” said Cde Michael Sikhosana, the secretary for information and publicity in Bulawayo.
Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial spokesperson Cde Jonathan Mathuthu concurred. “The meeting has been called by the senior leadership of the party. We will meet in Lupane tomorrow at 10am,” he said.
The party’s chairman in Matabeleland South, Cde Andrew Langa, said the meeting will be held in Gwanda tomorrow.
“The meeting is on and we expect the party leadership to visit us on Wednesday in Gwanda,” said Cde Langa.
Some powerful Zanu-PF members were allegedly manipulating DCCs causing unnecessary tension and divisions in the revolutionary party.
Provincial structures are now expected to play a pivotal role in the coordination of party activities.
Online Reporter