‘Unite & uphold Constitution’

Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has called on party members to recognise the critical importance of unified leadership and adherence to the party and country’s constitution, stating that these principles are fundamental pillars of Zanu-PF’s culture.

The President underscored that stop-gap measures are insufficient for achieving meaningful political solutions, urging party members to engage in robust and principled governance to ensure the party’s continued strength and integrity.

He made these remarks yesterday at the closing of the 21st Zanu-PF’s National People’s Conference that was held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo.

The President’s remarks come after delegates had resoundingly passed a resolution to have him extend his term up to the year 2030.

However, the party’s Secretary for Legal Affairs, Cde Patrick Chinamasa informed delegates that after numerous meetings with the President, he had turned down the offer continuously insisting that he was a constitutionalist and would be guided by the dictates of the country’s constitution, which he helped draft.

The President said, in rejecting the inroads that were made by Cde Chinamasa he was guided by his legal background as a qualified lawyer, saying lawyers are taught to always be guided by legal principles not politics.

“I would always tell Cde Chinamasa that we are both lawyers, a lawyer is trained to be legalistic but he would want to forget and become political, so I always remind my young brother Chinamasa that as a lawyer you must continue being legalistic, no matter where we are.

“The importance of unified leadership and respect of the party constitution cannot be over-emphasised. These are fundamental pillars of the culture of Zanu-PF.

“Stop-gap measures are never adequate in bringing about defining and requisite political solutions. Our membership is urged, therefore, to boldly move forward in the interest of the party,” said President Mnangagwa.

He insisted that one of the ruling party’s strengths which made it continue on its success trajectory was that it was a party of rules and order.

“At this stage of our political development and maturity of our party, all cadres are challenged to adhere to our deeply entrenched party discipline, rules and correct line. Straying from the right path can cause fatal mistakes and dire consequences to our liberation movement and the people’s revolution.

“The clarity of purpose, unity and cordial environment which characterised our conference, shamed detractors and dispelled the misinformation that had spread to alarming levels.

Zanu-PF is a party of rules and order. Matare eMusangano akajeka. Hakuna mazvake mazvake (The dictates of the party are clear, no one does what they want). The whole party should entrench this fundamental trait,” said the President.

He further emphasised the importance of maintaining the highest degree of unity in thought, practice and action, as well as political stance as being the responsibility of every party member. The President emphasised that every party member must strive to lead by example and act in line with the overall interest of the party and country, when performing their duties.

“Our purposes must continue to be intricately linked to the progress and economic rejuvenation of our great motherland, Zimbabwe. We, the current crop of cadres, have an obligation to ensure that Zanu-PF remains the driving force for peaceful development and to build our economy at an accelerated pace.

“Each of us should never consider ourselves more important than the Party. Individually, we must ask ourselves if we are loyal, honest, consistent, persistent and whether we will persevere with the party,” he said.

“These are the traits of a revolutionary cadre of Zanu-PF. Always strive to attain these traits. If you fail any one of them, one day unonanaigwa nemusangano. Those that perpetrate acts of indiscipline, some of which now extend to acts of criminality, are warned.”

The President underscored the importance of respect among party cadres, noting that even the party leaders must be prepared to be good followers.

He said, individually, party members are a cog in a much bigger system.

“Let us be remembered for uniting the party as well as helping others, and not dividing the party and our people. We must continue to persevere under the party, even at times when it is tough. Mind-sets, counter-revolutionary tendencies, favouritism, regionalism and tribalism must be opposed.

“Similarly, cadres across all levels should reject corruption or the pursuit of ill-gotten gains and privileges. These are the values that we were taught by the founding fathers. Gwara remusangano wedu weZanu-PF harishanduke,” said President Mnangagwa.

The President said with the success of the conference, party members should now go back to their respective districts and boast that the revolutionary party was still going strong, dispelling all the misinformation that was being spread by the country’s detractors.

He said the party has emerged from the conference more united, renewed, recharged and full of vigour for the work that lies ahead.

“Let us go back, therefore, to our respective districts and provinces, and tell the people that Zanu-PF is alive, united and stronger. Inform them that together, as one unitary and peace loving nation, our Zanu-PF party stands ready to register new victories and socio-economic milestones.

“In our march towards Vision 2030, the people of our great motherland, Zimbabwe, shall enjoy the fruits of prosperity and development. Hand-in-hand, we are moving forward, overcoming obstacles in our way, such as the illegal economic sanctions. Under the Zanu-PF led Government, the rise of Zimbabwe is unstoppable,” said the President.