Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
THE ZANU PF provincial leadership in Mashonaland West has thrown its full weight behind a key resolution from the party’s 21st National People’s Conference, calling for President Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030.
The endorsement was reaffirmed during a recent Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting held in Chinhoyi.
The meeting discussed several key issues, including preparations for the 2025 ZANU PF National People’s Conference, to be hosted in Mutare, strategies to strengthen the verification of party cells and the introduction of new central committee members.
It also marked the official introduction of the new provincial administrator, Cde Albert Mhlanga, who replaces Cde Fanny Chikomba.
Cde Chikomba retired earlier this year after years of dedicated service to the party.
Addressing members, ZANU PF’s secretary for health, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, underscored the province’s firm commitment to extending President Mnangagwa’s tenure.
“As a province, we are solidly behind 2024 Conference Resolution Number One, advocating for President Mnangagwa to remain in power until 2030,” he declared, drawing loud cheers from party members.
Dr Mombeshora stressed the importance of unity and mutual respect, warning that divisions within the party were slowing progress towards Vision 2030.
His remarks were echoed by Politburo member and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi, who also voiced strong support for the resolution.
He cautioned officials against misusing social media to spread falsehoods and disparage fellow members.
“We currently face a situation where certain individuals misuse social media platforms to launch attacks on fellow members,” said Cde Ziyambi.
“As a party, we have already instituted a social media policy, and at the Governmental level, the Cyber and Data Protection Act is in effect.”
Cde Ziyambi further warned that administrators of social media groups could face arrest if they allow offensive material to circulate on their platforms.
Updates on membership mobilisation and cell verification were also shared, with provincial chairperson Cde Mary Mliswa-Chikoka noting the need to strengthen engagement in urban areas.
“We are working diligently to address the concerning statistics reflecting our urban membership. The ongoing verification exercise has made it clear that there is significant work needed in these areas,” she said.
As part of its contribution towards this year’s conference, the province has secured six cattle and is running a campaign to raise the required US$50 000.
Meanwhile, former ZANU PF Central Committee member and Mines and Mining Development Minister during the late former President Mugabe’s era, Cde Walter Chidhakwa, has been readmitted into the revolutionary party.
Cde Chidhakwa, a nephew of the late Cde Mugabe, was expelled from the party in 2017. He has not been a member of ZANU PF for the past eight years and recently pleaded with the party for readmission.
Speaking at a ZANU PF PCC meeting held in Chinhoyi yesterday, Cde Mliswa-Chikoka confirmed Cde Chidhakwa’s readmission.
“We have a confirmation from the party’s headquarters that Cde Chidhakwa has been readmitted,” she said, before calling for any objections or secondments.
The party’s Sanyati District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairperson, Cde Langton Mabhanga, welcomed the decision, saying it reflected President Mnangagwa’s call for unity and reconciliation.
“I second the readmission of Cde Chidhakwa into the party and see no reason to object to it. Our President speaks of unity and giving second chances. We will be glad to have him back into the party,” he said, drawing wild cheers from members.
Cde Mliswa-Chikoka is expected to forward the provincial resolution on Cde Chidhakwa’s readmission to the party’s national headquarters.
ZANU PF members must stop embarrassing the president. He has consistently told all that care to listen that his position is clear as far as what the party’s and the national constitutions dictate. He is a constitutionalist and will remain so. This noise about him extending his term of office must stop. People must focus on making his term a success instead of dragging him into some form of a cult hero. We cannot continue to make reference to him for everything that is happening in this country. No news on our national broadcasts goes without his name being mentioned, even in the most useless events that he stumbles upon. Every minister who speaks about national issues reminds us ad nauseum that he is the president of Zimbabwe despite the fact that we elected him and everyone knows who he is. Sometimes it becomes a little too tardy and embarrassing. Let’s stop this childish behaviour and start putting some respect into what the president stands for.