Vusumuzi Dube
President Mnangagwa on Wednesday said ruling Zanu PF party members should always follow its constitution, and adhere to party principles of honesty and integrity.
Addressing the 377th Ordinary Session of the party’s Politburo, he implored the party’s commissariat department to ensure respect for the Zanu-PF constitution, supported by all other wings of the party.
“…The need to nurture an unflinching sense of respect for (the) party constitution must always be emphasised. Adherence to principle, honesty and integrity must remain the hallmark of party leaders and its membership in general,” he said.
He challenged all party organs to always discharge their duties in line with the dictates, rules and regulations of the constitution of the party, adding this culture needs to be entrenched.
“Similarly, clarifications regarding party mobilisation, restructuring and co-options as well as disciplinary procedures must be clearly explained to our structures. In this regard, our constitution is the fundamental point of reference,” President Mnangagwa said.
He encouraged party leaders to keep abreast of economic developments taking place in the country to be able to educate the broader membership on these as campaign and support mobilisation trump cards for the party.
He said all sectors of the economy, except agriculture, were generally performing well in response to government policy incentives and other inducements.
The agriculture sector was this year badly affected by a severe El Nino-induced drought.
In the face of climate change, he said government would step up mitigatory measures in the agriculture sector, such as developing irrigation, to ensure food self-sufficiency at all times.
“The recent Zimbabwe Irrigation Investment conference was a resounding success and injected over US$200 million into expanding the country’s irrigation infrastructure,” said President Mnangagwa.
He further implored all party members at every level to harness innovation for development opportunities as the country modernises and industrialises.
This, he said, was the panacea for increased production and productivity, and ultimately achievement of the 2030 national development vision.
President Mnangagwa cited the Mutare Teachers College Baobab Fruit Juice and Water Bottling Plant, which he commissioned earlier this month, as an example of successful harnessing of innovation and science-driven education which can drive the country’s industrialisation.
He also challenged the party leadership to be in the forefront of ensuring that people understood how the country’s economy benefited from regional integration, of which next month’s 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held in Harare is an example of.
“In line with our Engagement and Re-engagement Policy as well as our economic diplomacy thrust, side-line events, such as the SADC Industrialisation Week, along with other bi-lateral partnerships should be leveraged to accelerate holistic, sustainable and inclusive development,” said President Mnangagwa.
He also paid tribute to traditional chiefs from Matabeleland North and South as well as Midlands provinces, churches and other stakeholders for their commitment towards finding closure to an unfortunate episode of internal fighting that took place in the three regions soon after independence in 1980 in which thousands of people are thought to have been killed.
“To this end, my launch of the Gukurahundi Community Outreach Programme in Bulawayo, on the 14th of July, was historic and will have positive impacts on our quest for lasting and durable national cohesion, love and harmony. Zimbabwe is a peaceful, indivisible and unitary State. We are one and united in our diversity,” he said.
New Ziana
Bongani Ndlovu