Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka, [email protected]
Zanu‑PF’s grassroots mobilisation drive has gained momentum in Bulawayo, where the party’s Youth League in the City Centre District has launched a series of community outreach programmes aimed at identifying the needs of vulnerable groups and strengthening the party’s support base through a blend of political engagement and humanitarian assistance.
Running under the theme “Mobilisation of youths and assessing community needs,” the initiative recently took the Youth League leadership, led by City Centre District Youth chairman Cde Joseph Majoni, to the Sandra Jones Children’s Home — formerly the Rio Hotel — in Bulawayo’s Waterford suburb.
The visit was not merely symbolic but served as a strategic intervention to demonstrate the party’s commitment to supporting vulnerable children and strengthening community ties through practical, results-driven action.
The home, which accommodates about 69 children aged between one and 18 years, provided an opportunity for the youth leadership to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment.
During the engagement, staff and residents outlined several urgent requirements needed to improve the children’s welfare. Key issues raised included the need for enhanced lighting, additional beds, improved housing equipment and extensive ceiling repairs to resolve persistent water leaks threatening the building’s structural integrity.
In an interview after the assessment, Cde Majoni said the initiative was a direct response to the party leadership’s call to serve communities at grassroots level.
“The initiative aligns with Zanu-PF’s values of community upliftment and youth empowerment, embodying the principle of ‘leaving no one and no place behind’ in line with His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030,” said Cde Majoni.
He stressed that the Youth League is shifting away from traditional political routines toward a model of “servant leadership” that responds to the immediate needs of disadvantaged communities.
“Our visit to Sandra Jones was an eye-opener. As the youth leadership, we are not just about slogans, we are about identifying where our people are hurting and finding solutions. We have taken note of the issues regarding the ceiling leaks and the lack of bedding, and I am promising collaborative action with my leadership team to address these challenges head-on,” Cde Majoni said.
The mobilisation drive comes as the party works to consolidate its structures in urban centres. By placing emphasis on social welfare and community development, the Youth League is widening the party’s appeal to younger, socially aware demographics.
Cde Majoni said prioritising the well-being of children in residential care facilities was central to his district’s mandate, reflecting the core principles of the Second Republic’s social contract.
“We are committed to ensuring ongoing support for the home’s operations. A child in a home must feel the warmth of the party and the Government. By fixing a ceiling or providing a bed, we are telling these children that they are part of the Zimbabwean dream and that their Government cares,” he said.
The City Centre District is expected to conduct similar assessment visits to other social welfare institutions and community facilities in the coming weeks, forming part of a broader strategy to ensure that the party’s Vision 2030 goals are felt across all levels of society.
