Online Reporter
Joseph Madzimure
Zimpapers Politics Hub
Members of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) announced on Monday their decision to rejoin Zanu PF, expressing confidence in President Mnangagwa’s initiatives aimed at achieving Vision 2030, which seeks to establish an empowered upper-middle-income society.
POLAD, a dialogue platform consisting of 17 political parties that participated in the 2018 harmonised general elections, was created by President Mnangagwa to foster dialogue with the opposition in addressing the country’s challenges.
The platform was officially launched on May 17, 2019.
Speaking at a welcome reception at Zanu PF Headquarters in Harare yesterday, POLAD’s acting spokesperson Mr Welcome Shumba, formally announced their rejoining.
“We hereby seek authority to return to Zanu PF as former Polad principals, together with our senior party members,” said Mr Shumba.
“We have taken this decision after considering the works being championed by President Mnangagwa and the Zanu PF developmental policies, which empower the black majority.”
He referred to the party’s mantra, “Nyika inovakwa neve vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo,” emphasising the need for unity.
“This principle has led us to reconsider and ultimately decide to rejoin the mother party, which has become a home for all.”
Mr Shumba urged Zimbabweans to unite and support President Mnangagwa in realising Vision 2030.
“Having been in politics for a long time and contested elections for Members of Parliament and president since 2012, we had the opportunity to be part of POLAD, an initiative that has fostered peace, stability and economic growth since 2019,” he added.
Zanu PF Political Commissar, Cde Munyaradzi Machacha, welcomed the returning members, but noted that they would need to attend the Chitepo School of Ideology first to fully grasp the party’s principles.
“We have been instructed by our leader, President Mnangagwa, to receive you and any others wishing to come back to Zanu PF with open arms,” he said.
“As a revolutionary party, our goal is to collaborate with every Zimbabwean to ensure the prosperity of our country, improve the economy, and enhance the livelihoods of our people year after year.”
Cde Machacha said their return would strengthen Zanu PF and promote unity among Zimbabweans, allowing the nation to focus on the shared goal of development.
“This unity also undermines our detractors who wish to see us divided.”
Cde Machacha said that the image of former political rivals coming together in unity sends a powerful message.
The trend of opposition members rejoining Zanu PF has been significant, with at least 437 000 members returning to the party in recent years, solidifying the revolutionary party’s position as the preferred political choice among Zimbabweans.
