Online Reporter
Sunday Mail Reporters
ZANU PF yesterday held one of its biggest nationwide grassroots mobilisation exercises, with thousands of members converging at their respective party cells as the ruling party intensified efforts to strengthen its structures, update its membership database and consolidate its support base.
The National Cell Day exercise was conducted simultaneously across all provinces, with Politburo and Central Committee members, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, senators, councillors and other senior party officials joining ordinary members at their registered cells in line with the party’s organisational framework.
Across the country, members verified their details, updated cell registers, recruited new members and discussed programmes aimed at strengthening grassroots structures.
Cell chairpersons presided over the meetings and oversaw the verification process to ensure registers accurately reflected active membership.
The exercise forms part of the party’s ongoing digitisation programme, which seeks to create a comprehensive electronic membership database while ensuring every registered member belongs to an active and functional party cell. National Cell Day has become one of ZANU PF’s flagship grassroots programmes, requiring every member, regardless of rank, to attend meetings at their registered cell, reinforcing the principle that the cell is the foundation of the party’s organisational structure.
At Pricabe Farm, where members of Dambudzo 1 Cell met, Politburo member Cde Daniel McKenzie, standing in for President Mnangagwa, stressed that authentic cell structures remain the bedrock of the ruling party.
“ZANU PF is a party with structures, but there is no other structure which is more important than the cell,” he said.
“Without a foundation, nothing stands. Cells have got to be authentic. Without an authentic structure, you can’t go anywhere. That is why ZANU PF will always dominate the political space because it is a party built on living cell structures.”
Cde McKenzie said President Mnangagwa had intended to attend the meeting, as he did during a similar exercise in February, but had to attend to an urgent matter. “The President was here in February to verify and ensure that his cell was intact, which I also witnessed,” he said.
“All preparations had been made for his attendance today, but something more urgent arose and he sent his apologies. I am standing in on his behalf.”
Dambudzo 1 Cell chairperson Cde Liberty Siziba said the President consistently participates in cell activities because he appreciates their importance.
“This is the President’s cell and he always comes here to verify that his name is on the register because cells are the foundation of ZANU PF. The party derives its strength from the cell level,” he said.
In Harare province, ZANU PF provincial vice chairperson Cde Ephraim Fundukwa attended the National Cell Day meeting at Cell 3 in Southlea Park, Churu constituency, describing the exercise as central to strengthening the party’s visibility, unity and organisational capacity.
“We are meeting as neighbours who understand one another and share common experiences. It becomes easier to organise ourselves and monitor developments within our communities,” he said.
The meeting was addressed by Cde Monica Muchadehama, who supervised the verification of cell registers and said the exercise was intended to ensure every member was properly accounted for.
ZANU PF Secretary for Education, Research and Ideology Cde Charles Tawengwa attended Cell 1 under Tagarika Branch in Nyerere district, Highfield, where he commended grassroots structures for their mobilisation efforts.
“Vibrant cell structures remain the cornerstone of the party’s strength and organisational effectiveness,” he said.
In Ushewokunze, more than 15 new members who had defected from opposition parties joined ZANU PF during the exercise.
Former Harare South legislator Cde Shadreck Mashayamombe, who attended Cell 1 at George Nyandoro Branch, said the high turnout reflected confidence in the party’s leadership.
“The turnout is testimony to the work being championed by President Mnangagwa. We are seeing development projects taking shape and it is encouraging to see more young people joining the party,” he said.
Warren Park’s Zone 3 also recorded a strong turnout, with new members joining the party and reaffirming the importance of vibrant grassroots structures.
In Masvingo province, thousands of members participated in the exercise, with Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Ezra Chadzamira joining other party members at the DSO Business Centre in Masvingo West.
Other senior leaders, including Politburo members Cde Ottilia Maluleke and Cde Lovemore Matuke, also attended meetings in Chiredzi East and Gutu Central, respectively.
Provincial leaders said the exercise attracted new members as recruitment continued across the province.
In Mashonaland West, ZANU PF Secretary for Legal Affairs Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi attended his Matikwiri Cell at the Marevanani Business Centre in Zvimba West, where he said National Cell Day was critical to the party’s digitisation programme.
“As ZANU PF, Cell Day is important as we move to digital membership records. The exercise enables us to establish the exact membership in every area and plan effectively using verified data,” he said.
Party members at Murindagomo Cell in Ward 12 welcomed the verification exercise, saying it strengthened grassroots structures.
Zvimba West legislator and Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Cde Mercy Dinha, who attended Geza Cell in Ward 27, said members were enthusiastic about participating, with some cells completing verification by 8.30am.
Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Cde Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, who attended proceedings in Hurungwe West, said attendance had been high across the province.
In Mashonaland East, provincial chairperson Cde Daniel Garwe attended National Cell Day in Ward 4, Murewa district, where he urged members to verify their names annually while recruiting more people into the party.
“President Mnangagwa proclaimed June 27 as National Cell Day and this is now an annual exercise. Besides verifying our names, we must continue bringing more people into the party,” he said.
Introduced as part of efforts to reinvigorate the party’s grassroots machinery, National Cell Day requires every member, including the President and the senior leadership, to attend meetings at their registered cells rather than convening at higher organisational levels.
Each ZANU PF cell comprises 50 members led by a 21-member committee drawn from the Main Wing, Women’s League and Youth League.
