Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka [email protected]
BULAWAYO’S ongoing grassroots mobilisation campaign received another boost on Saturday as United Kingdom-based lawyer and politician Cde Pardon Tapfumaneyi, who joined the party late last year under its Dzokai Kumusha/Buyani Ekhaya (Come Home) programme, was formally inducted into Zanu-PF after being registered as a member of Cell Number 25 in Mpopoma during National Cell Day commemorations.
The induction, held during National Cell Day commemorations organised by Zanu-PF Bulawayo Province District Coordinating Committee (DCC) 3, saw Cde Tapfumaneyi officially introduced to members in Mpopoma-Inziki A District before being registered under Cell Number 25.
His induction into the party came alongside that of several other new members who were assigned to various cells as the ruling party intensified efforts to broaden its support base.
Addressing party members after his introduction, Cde Tapfumaneyi expressed gratitude for the warm reception he received, describing his official induction as a defining moment in his political journey.
He said his decision to join Zanu-PF was well considered and driven by his conviction that the revolutionary party remains the best vehicle to advance national unity, development and economic transformation.
“I feel honoured and humbled to officially become a member of Cell Number 25. The warm welcome I have received from party members has strengthened my resolve to serve wholeheartedly within the party structures,” he said.
“My decision to join Zanu-PF was inspired by my belief in the party’s vision, its developmental policies and the inclusive leadership of President Mnangagwa. I have come home to contribute positively to the development of my country.”
Cde Tapfumaneyi said his return from the United Kingdom had given him a renewed appreciation of Zimbabwe’s development trajectory under the Second Republic.
Having observed different political systems abroad, he said he was convinced that sustainable national development could only be achieved through unity, peace and the collective participation of all Zimbabweans.
“Zimbabwe’s future depends on all of us working together. Instead of standing on the sidelines, I have chosen to be part of the process of building our nation. Politics should unite people around development and improving the lives of our communities,” he said.
The former opposition politician pledged to use his legal expertise and international experience to strengthen the party’s mobilisation efforts while encouraging more Zimbabweans, particularly those living in the diaspora, to reconnect with their country through the Dzokai Kumusha/Buyani Ekhaya programme.
“There are many Zimbabweans living abroad who still love their homeland. My message to them is that nation-building requires the participation of every Zimbabwean. I will continue engaging many people who have followed my political journey and encourage them to return home and contribute to Zimbabwe’s development through Zanu-PF,” he said.
He described his political transition as a personal awakening that reaffirmed his commitment to serving Zimbabwe from within the country’s mainstream political structures.
Party members welcomed Cde Tapfumaneyi and other new recruits, saying National Cell Day had once again demonstrated the importance of the cell system as the foundation of Zanu-PF’s organisational strength.
Speaking on the sidelines of the commemorations, Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Cde Archie Chiponda said the growing number of new members joining the revolutionary party reflected the success of sustained mobilisation efforts across the province.
“As Zanu-PF Bulawayo Province, we are very happy with the turnout on Cell Day. We managed to verify a vast number of our party members while also registering many new members. There is tremendous interest in Zanu-PF,” he said.
“These are the fruits of our mobilisation drive. As a political party, we continuously seek to grow our membership and broaden our support base. National Cell Day provides an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of our mobilisation efforts.”
Cde Chiponda said the impressive turnout underscored the vibrancy of the party’s grassroots structures.
“The numbers are very encouraging. National Cell Day enables us to take stock of our membership, assess how we are performing as an organisation and listen to ideas from our members. Politics is a numbers game, and this exercise strengthens our structures from the grassroots upwards,” he said.
He described the cell structure as the bedrock of the revolutionary party, saying it provides ordinary members with a platform to participate in decision-making and organisational development.
“The cell structure speaks to our origins as a grassroots party. It is where members interact directly with their leadership before progressing through branch, district, provincial and national structures. That is what has continued to make Zanu-PF a disciplined, organised and formidable political movement.”
Introduced in 2022, National Cell Day has become one of Zanu-PF’s flagship organisational programmes, providing an opportunity for the party to verify its membership, recruit new supporters, strengthen grassroots structures and deepen engagement with communities.
Party officials said the continued influx of new members under programmes such as Dzokai Kumusha/Buyani Ekhaya reflects growing confidence in the Second Republic’s policies and reinforces the party’s commitment to broadening participation in Zimbabwe’s socio-economic transformation.
