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Dr Obert Moses Mpofu
ZANU-PF’s colossal revolutionary attribute is born out of the time immemorial endorsement it has received from the nationalist fraternity in Zimbabwe and abroad. The party’s predominant presence in the minds and the hearts of the people of Zimbabwe has a deep connection with history of our nation.
In essence, Zanu-PF is the ideological engineering hub of patriotism and nationalism. Equally, democracy in Zimbabwe is a product of Zanu-PF’s ideological genius. Therefore, Zanu-PF’s quest for mandate renewal is predicated on the party’s rich revolutionary character. And this must be re-emphasised as the nation heads for polls on the 23rd of August this year.
We are a revolutionary party and our existential agency is informed by the need for transformation. Like any other revolutionary movement, our vocation was that of dismantling pre-independence inequalities, poverty and unjust laws. From that time to this time, our mandate has been consistent –to deliver public happiness.
Our task has been to rescue our people from man-made miseries. Yesterday’s fight against imperialism was not over and done with. Today we find ourselves bearing the brunt of Global North exerted pressures.
We have colonial forces that denied our people democracy, but today they are producing protégé reactionary political outfits posing as advocates of the rule of law and human rights. These political parties have no clear action plan in terms of addressing basic socio-economic needs of our people.
Zimbabwe is experiencing very exceptional circumstances owing to the tragedy of an opposition movement that deliberately disconnects itself from the national liberation project. Out of its humanist bankruptcy, our opposition has been thriving on the economic problems experienced by our people in order to posture as a better alternative.
Such is the pale state of the Western engineered democracy underpinned on fighting the erstwhile peasant class from land expropriation. Having imported Rhodesians’ bitterness of losing the armed struggle to poorly armed village boys and girls into post-independent Zimbabwe’s youth demographic dividend, the discourse of press liberties under landless conditions has been underscored.
Empty promises of human rights protection disjointed from mineral exploration rights form the broader ironic crisis of our time. The opposition has been determined to mislead the youth that once they get into power, they will champion employment creation. What they have never disclosed is their game plan to reinstitute economic colonialism once they are in power.
Their only economic turnaround plan is restoring the indignity of economic colonialism. Such an ideological disconnect from the colloquial anti-colonial political sentiment is one reason the electoral majority will never vote for opposition parties as they lack ideological existential merit.
The people of Zimbabwe have refused to be complicit to the anti-land reform convictions of the opposition. Today than never before, progressive Zimbabweans refuse to be associated with the Zdera criminality that has brought unprecedented suffering to our nation. While the opposition is suffering from failure to self-exorcise and repent from colonial caprices and plagues, Zanu-PF is deepening its connections with the masses.
Zanu-PF’s victory path to 23 August will be set out. The 2023 election will be peaceful, free, fair and credible just as our previous elections. We are a party that submits to constitutionalism. We shall ensure that the elections happen as per our Constitution without fail.
The Second-Republic earned its first legitimacy from the electoral reforms which were instituted ahead of the 2018 Harmonised Election. Our President, His Excellency, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa has used every opportune occasion to call on citizens of Zimbabwe to promote peace and tolerance particularly during the election season. It is hoped that other political parties, their leadership, both local and foreign accredited election observers including the media, will amplify this call for peace before, during and after the elections.
The 2018 ground breaking election reform milestones include consultative processes which led to introduction of a new ballot, biometric voting system, and inclusive media coverage of all political players by the public media. These are among the other reforms inherited from the last election which will be carried over to this election in more efficient terms.
The Voters Roll has been aligned to the delimitation demands of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The delimitation process entailed reorganisation of electoral boundaries by way of dividing the country into constituencies and wards for election of Members of the National Assembly and Councillors of local authorities. This is a constitutionally prescribed process.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) submitted the preliminary Delimitation Report to the President on the 3rd of February followed by the adoption of the document as provided by the law.
On 31 May, 2023 President Mnangagwa made a proclamation of the Election Day and set out 23 August as the polling date for the 2023 Harmonised Election.
On 21 July, the Nomination Court opened the process for presidential, parliamentary and council candidates. President Mnangagwa directly filed his nomination papers like any other candidate. There is no doubt that President Mnangagwa will win this election. His candidature represents the future of Zanu-PF’s revolutionary aspirations.
n Dr Obert Moses Mpofu is the Secretary-General of the ruling Zanu-PF.
Online Reporter