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Patrick Chitumba Senior Reporter—
ZANU-PF Bulawayo Province is geared towards dislodging the opposition MDC-T in the 2018 general elections after eliminating anarchy within its structures, a senior party official said yesterday. Provincial chairman Professor Callistus Ndlovu said the province had restored discipline within its ranks and was ready to win back all the 12 parliamentary seats and 29 council wards it lost to the MDC-T in last year’s July 31 election.
“We have eliminated a lot of indiscipline here. In the past when people visited this place, they visited with a great deal of trepidation because they did not know if they were going to be assaulted or something would happen to them,” he said.
“Actually, there was anarchy and what we have done is to completely eliminate it. Now people can come here freely and meet officials without being harassed.”
Prof Ndlovu said he regretted that in the past business- people were being harassed by people who went around raising funds purporting to be representing the party when they were doing it for their personal gain.
He said some people had even put the epithet that Davis Hall, the party’s provincial headquarters, was “Devils’ Hall” owing to indiscipline among party members.
“It is no longer the case so I am proud to say the trajectory is now towards the 2018 elections. We believe that we are poised for a successful campaign in 2018 because the party is more cohesive now and people seem to now know why they are in the party instead of pursuing personal agendas,” said Prof Ndlovu.
He, however, said certain policy issues were militating against Zanu-PF’s interests and said these need to be looked at by the national leadership.
“Policies are not made in Bulawayo, they are made at central level. There are policy issues which the party here should expose the central party to and make them aware that the people here are looking for one, two or three,” said Prof Ndlovu.
“If we do that we will be in a position to make the party relevant.”
He said Bulawayo was a unique province with peculiar issues.
Prof Ndlovu made reference to contradictions ranging from the perceptions around the Gukurahundi issue and ethnic differences between Ndebeles and Shonas and what he termed a “fault line” between the old Zanu and Zapu.
“So those fault lines can only be corrected through effective organisation and not petty flogging or doing things where individuals pursue personal agendas. Unless those are addressed we won’t get anywhere,” he said.
Prof Ndlovu said the ruling party should address issues of infrastructure and jobs effectively to dislodge MDC-T in Bulawayo.
“It doesn’t matter how much organisation we are going to have, the MDC will continue winning in urban areas. Those are the things that must be understood,” he said.
The renowned academic spoke on the sidelines of a provincial induction programme during which the party stressed the importance of unity of purpose.
Prof Ndlovu said the induction exercise was a national programme meant to conscientise members about the party ideology and the discipline that runs it.
He said the party was not just about occupying positions but working and winning more members.
Politburo member and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo encouraged party members to revive party structures.
Online Reporter