The Second Republic has championed an inclusive development agenda

Joseph Madzimure Senior Reporter

Zanu PF is poised for a clean sweep in 2023 harmonised elections as the Second Republic under the stewardship of the party’s First Secretary, President Mnangagwa has implemented 2018 conference resolutions which witnessed massive development projects taking shape across the country.

Since coming into power in 2017, President Mnangagwa has led from the front to ensure the revolutionary party delivers on its election promises.

The Second Republic has made strides in job creation, re-engagement, democracy, curbing corruption, conflict resolution and agricultural productivity, among other achievements aimed at fostering socio-economic development and peaceful co-existence to eradicate poverty.

The Second Republic under his ambit demonstrates a commitment to serve the interests of the majority by embarking on massive infrastructure development projects cutting across all sectors of the economy.

In line with the country’s constitution, Zimbabwe is set to hold harmonised elections this year to vote for leaders who will lead the country for the next five years.

Guided by the National Development Strategy (NDS1), which builds momentum towards the attainment of an upper middle-income economy by 2030, the Second Republic has championed an inclusive development agenda, which has seen numerous transformative projects being rolled out across the country.

Zanu PF Political Commissar Cde Mike Bimha said the party is expected to consolidate unity and is on course towards securing an overwhelming governing mandate in 2023 general election.

During the 2022 by-elections, the ruling party managed to fish from opposition strong holds through its sound policies which are people centred.

Zanu PF has a commanding majority in Parliament and made it clear that it aimed to fish from the opposition pond and maintain its stronghold in rural areas

Led by President Mnangagwa, the governing party has launched an urban renewal agenda that has seen roads being rehabilitated under the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) and water challenges being addressed, in the short term through the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme while construction of dams will offer a long-term solution.

Title deeds are also on cards for urban dwellers. Central Government had to step in to fill the gaping void in service delivery which was next to non-existent while officials from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) or MDC Alliance lined their pockets.

In 2018, the MDC Alliance candidates won in Epworth and Mutasa South but the same candidates were clobbered in last year’s by-election as Zanu PF policies appear to be hitting the mark ahead of 2023 general elections.

A pro-opposition research entity, the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI), has said the by-elections have shown that the revolutionary Zanu PF party is on a strong resurgent trajectory as it managed to grow its support base by larger margins than its opponents fronted by CCC.

Cde Bimha confirmed that Zanu PF is poised for a thunderous victory come 2023 election.

“Our members will continue to support the party as we go through 2023. Credit must also go to Government under the astute leadership of President Mnangagwa for a sterling performance during the time.

“Since the coming in of the Second Republic there is remarkable strides in a number of areas particularly in the infrastructure, mining, agriculture, tourism and across all sectors.

“The good performance has helped the party to make inroads and I have no doubt in my mind that if the Government continues to register success stories we will see the party becoming stronger and stronger,” said Cde Bimha.

The ruling party, he said has a pleasing performance in all its programmes.

“All in all, the party has a pleasing performance. Zanu PF is the only party that matters in this country. It is a party with history, a party with a background, a party that has driven the revolution starting from a struggle against Ian Smith regime up to the time where we are now focusing on economic development. It is the only party which has demonstrated that land can be taken from the oppressors and given to those who owned that land hitherto,” said Cde Bimha.

As part of mobilisation strategy, Cde Bimha said they have recorded 120 affiliates organisation who want to be associated with the party.

Zanu PF is targeting to mobilise 5 million voters for President Mnangagwa and the party to ensure a resounding victory in next year’s election.

Next year, the party will launch the “Dzokai Kumusha” initiative as part of its mobilisation strategy to lure members from the opposition.

A number of members who were previously in MDC and CCC are coming back to Zanu PF.

The ruling party has so far established an office at the party headquarters for the those returning.

So far a number of former CCC and MDC-Alliance members traced their roots back to Zanu-PF, among them Obert Gutu, Blessing Chebundo, Tongai Matutu, Lillian Timveous among other high ranking officials

The revolutionary party accepts them back home and nurture them to become cadres of virtue who appreciate that “Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo”.

That, however, requires goodwill and probity on the part of those seeking to return to the party and that benchmark is sacrosanct.

This group is led by Cde Blessing Chebundo and has done so well in fishing from the opposition pond.

The President gave a formula at the congress, that, the party grows by opening up its doors to everyone who wishes to come back to the home of the people’s revolution.

Zanu PF introduced a National cell day, which will be celebrated annually to strengthen its grassroots, organisational and mass mobilisation units.

This is part of the scaling up of the revolutionary party’s mass mobilisation strategies as it gears for a resounding victory in the 2023 Harmonised Elections.

The 7th Zanu PF National People’s Congress, which was held last year also offers the party an opportunity to consolidate national unity, accelerate industrialisation and modernisation, and sharpen comprehensive strategies for outright victory this year.

As President Mnangagwa often says, “Leaving No One and No place behind” in development, the congress also instructed Zanu PF structures to “Leave No One and No Place Behind” as far as mobilisation to join and vote for the party and its declared and endorsed candidate is concerned.

Every Zimbabwean has Zanu PF DNA, never mind isolated errant behaviour of hobnobbing with rotten bananas, never mind social media bravado, never mind Winky D’s song called Ibotso, meant to tarnish the country’s image and causing alarm and despondency among peace loving Zimbabweans, they know that the ruling party will triumph come 2023 elections.