Online Reporter
Sunday Mail Reporters
SOLID FOUNDATIONS are critical to support structures, and therefore the ruling party’s cells — considered the basic building blocks — should be respected to facilitate growth and development, President Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking at the Dambudzo 1 Cell meeting at Sherwood Block in Kwekwe yesterday, where he humbly submitted himself during proceedings that were led by chairperson of the cell Cde Liberty Siziba, President Mnangagwa, who is the First Secretary of ZANU PF, said “a house needs a solid foundation” for its sustenance.
“I am delighted to be here, and I respect my leader, the cell leader, Cde Siziba. I am happy to be here to be counted. Every individual in the country belongs to a cell. This is ours, and I am with you today,” he said.
“Last year we were here and today it is the same. We must all remember that it starts from the cell, branch, province, and all these structures work together and should be respected. The foundation of the party is the cell. Without a foundation, a structure collapses. For example, a house needs a solid foundation, and ZANU PF needs a solid foundation of the cell. That is why I am grateful. The First Lady should have been with us, but I am glad she is in our cell.”
The President arrived for the programme around 11am and sat through the proceedings.
When Cde Siziba called out his name, President Mnangagwa swiftly rose to his feet, with his clinched right hand raised high, before chanting the party’s slogan.
His participation was meant to ensure that he was a registered and verified member of Dambudzo 1 Cell.
He told the gathering that he had come to listen to the chairperson of the cell.
“The cell is the foundation of the party because all power and positions emanate from the cell. I respect this exercise, which is why I have come from Harare to be with the cell leaders. You are the leaders, and those who do not respect them will miss out,” he said.
“We are meeting in cells where we come from. My colleagues (Vice President Kembo Mohadi and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and other leaders) are also in their cells, meeting their leaders, and we appreciate you for being the foundation of the party. I am happy we are still a strong cell.”
He called on party members to continue working together for the growth of the party, adding that each cell membership matters as it will translate to a vote during elections.
“One might be tall or short, educated or uneducated; you might be rich or poor, we need you registered in our cells. At the end of the day, we all have one vote, and so we all matter. We are all equal, even those with big stomachs,” he jokingly said while looking at Cde Vongaishe Mupereri, who has a huge frame, amid laughter from party members.
Addressing the same meeting, Cde Siziba said the President had humbled himself to take part in the important exercise.
“It is us from the cell level who will make Zimbabwe great. This is our cell, Dambudzo 1, which is in Hondoyeminda branch in Gagagawu A district. This is the cell in which our President and the First family belong. You see the President here as a humble person he is. But you must know that he started a long time ago in this cell, meaning this exercise is very important to us all,” he said.
Members from Dambudzo 2 and 3 cell groups also attended the meeting, so did Politburo member Cde Daniel Mckenzie Ncube, Cde Douglas Kwande, Cde Mupereri and Cde Patrick Mnangagwa.
Cde Mckenzie Ncube commended President Mnangagwa for showing leadership in making sure that the cell restructuring exercise was a success.
“The President put aside all other pressing issues to be with us today for this exercise. Mind you, this is a very important cell which has Dr Amai Mnangagwa and the First Family,” he said.
“Even though you are the same with the President in this cell, you are totally different as he is the First Secretary of ZANU PF and also Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.”
National Cell Day, he added, was important on the ruling party’s calendar as it captures the party members and advocates for the recruitment of more members.
“This is a day we are stock-taking our membership, which starts from the cell, countrywide. We are happy that this is happening here with President Mnangagwa present. We are calling on every member to respect this fundamental principle of ZANU PF as evidenced by President Mnangagwa, who humbled himself and graced the occasion.”
Meanwhile, it was a hive of activity across the country as cell members converged for the verification.
In Harare province, the party successfully conducted its cell verification.
Similarly, in Mashonaland Central province, the process went on well.
Community members in Rusambo political district, Chidzura village, gathered to verify their details in the cell register as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen grassroots participation in community and national development.
Among those present was university student Tanaka Chidzura, a registered voter who has participated in the previous two elections.
Scores of ZANU PF party members also thronged various centres in Beitbridge district, Matabeleland South district, to verify their membership status.
The party’s vice provincial chairperson, Cde Albert Nguluvhe, who is also Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, led the proceedings in Beitbridge.
He called for party representatives to go out in their numbers and mobilise more members to the party.
The exercise focused on strengthening grassroots structures through intensified membership recruitment and the verification and updating of the party database.
The exercise was running under the theme “Advancing Vision 2030 through Vibrant Cell Structures”.
