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Farirai Machivenyika and Felex Share Harare Bureau—
FIRST Lady Cde Grace Mugabe yesterday said a “mini Unity Accord” had been struck in Harare as she brought Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairman Cde Amos Midzi and the province’s Youth League chairperson Cde Godwin Gomwe together before thousands of party supporters who packed the City Sports Centre to the rafters. The First Lady also took the opportunity to publicly forgive Harare South legislator Cde Shadreck Mashayamombe for statements he allegedly made saying the First Lady must find a political home in Mashonaland West, President Mugabe’s home province.
Cde Mashayamombe is alleged to have told President Mugabe’s nephew Cde Patrick Zhuwawo that there was no Central Committee position for Cde Mugabe in Harare and that they should create such a post for her in Mashonaland West.
Cde Mugabe, who was at the City Sports Centre on the third leg of her “Meet the People Tour’’ blasted factionalism in the revolutionary party saying it was being promoted in the top echelons of the party as she urged members to work towards fulfilling promises made during last year’s harmonised elections.
Soon after taking to the podium, the First Lady told thousands of people gathered at the City Sports Centre for the rally that the day would be historic in the politics of Zanu-PF, before unexpectedly calling Cdes Midzi and Gomwe to the stage.
She said she had sought God’s guidance on how to deal with the differences in the party.
“I asked for wisdom from God. I said Cde Midzi is a father and Gomwe is young so who will stop their fight. I’m not perfect and I admit that I sometimes go wrong, but I asked for guidance on what can be done for people to work together. I brought them together and told them that I prayed about this yesterday and God told me they must work together for Harare to do well. I saw God’s greatness and wisdom from Cdes Midzi and Gomwe. Gomwe apologised and I’m now inviting them to join hands,” the First Lady said.
She warned that Zanu-PF members who continued to associate themselves with factions risked being left behind.
“This is our own mini Unity Accord between Midzi and Gomwe,” she said. “We forged Unity Accord. This must cascade to everyone for the party to move ahead in unity.
“If among the crowd, there’s anyone who sided with Gomwe, if there is anyone who wanted the other person you will be left behind because we’ve opened a new leaf here in Harare. These people have agreed to work together for the party.”
The First Lady also called Cde Mashayamombe and publicly forgave him for his alleged misdemeanours. She said as a mother, she had found it necessary to forgive Cde Mashayamombe after he had shown remorse for his actions. “So I want him to come here. Mashayamombe, where are you? I am your mother, the President is your father,” she said.
“If you’ve spoken badly about me, you were wrong. I’ve called you up to tell you publicly that I’ve forgiven you. I said from today on Harare the capital city of Zimbabwe will never be the same. Action speaks louder than words. I saw him (Cde Mashayamombe) at Danhiko bringing some presents to me, showing contrition and I told myself to soften up on him,” she said to a rapturous applause from the crowd.
Cdes Midzi, Gomwe and Mashayamombe welcomed the First Lady’s unifying speech, saying they would work together for the development of the party in the province.
“I never expected this from Cde Mugabe, but knowing that she is our mother, I took the message with all my heart with a view to develop the party,” said Cde Midzi.
“I applaud the First Lady for taking a mature way and we expect the province to receive her message of unity. That’s what we expect from the mother of the nation.”
Said Cde Gomwe: “She’s tackled the issue without taking any side and I receive that message wholeheartedly. If my chairman has received the message the way I did, I tell you we’ll pull in one direction, developing the party.”
Cde Mashayamombe said he did not expect the First Lady to play such a “motherly role.”
“This is what’s expected from the mother and she’s shown that unity is the way to go and we’ll forever be grateful for such unifying words.” he said.
Cde Mugabe said the focus of every Zanu-PF member should be on improving the livelihoods of Zimbabweans, instead of jostling for positions.
She said there was a lot of work to be done to improve service delivery as envisaged by the Zim-Asset economic blueprint.
“We cannot be a party of promises, we must fulfil those promises,” she said. “We went to elections telling people that we’ll do one, two, three, let’s do that. That’s what will make people say here’s a party that we’ll support. Other than that, it would be difficult in the next election.”
She spoke against the demolitions of houses being carried out by MDC-T led councils in Harare and Chitungwiza.
While the First Lady warned people against allocating themselves housing stands, she said demolitions should be done when affected people have been offered alternative accommodation.
The First Lady also said the government was concerned with the plight of women, especially affording them opportunities to be self-sufficient and called for the establishment of a special fund to finance their activities. She bemoaned the decline in the standards of cleanliness in the capital, saying this was portraying a bad image of the country.
Online Reporter