adminthe A1 and A2 farming models were testimony of how serious it was in empowering the previously marginalised Zimbabweans.
Speaking to The Herald on Monday, Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo said his party’s election campaign issues would zero in on real matters unlike the MDC formations’ abstract themes backed by their Western sponsors. Cde Gumbo said although Zanu-PF was yet to come up with the theme for its 13th annual people’s conference to be held in Gweru in December, the results on the empowerment programmes spoke volumes of the party’s dominance in the country’s body politic.
“We are a party of substance. We liberated the country and we continue to empower the people with issues that are there on the ground for everyone to see unlike the empty promises by other parties,” he said.
The success of Zanu-PF initiated land reform programme was the envy of many people in Africa, he said. The fruits of the land reform programme were more pronounced in the tobacco sector, where villagers’ lives were transformed overnight.
“Our empowerment thrust cuts across all sectors of the economy and has far reaching consequences to our people socially and economically,” he said.
Cde Gumbo, however, said the party was not going to relax because of the unscrupulous people who were likely to abuse the empowerment programmes resulting in intended beneficiaries being sidelined.
Said Cde Gumbo: “On the Community Share Ownership Trusts, we want to make sure that we ring-fence them so that they are water tight. They should benefit those communities.”
So far President Mugabe has launched the Marange-Zimunya, Zvishavane, Chegutu-Mhondoro-Ngezi/Zvimba and Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trusts where mining companies gave at least 10 percent shareholding to communities they operate from.
“We want to see the people using that money to build roads, dip tanks and other social amenities in these areas for the benefit of the people,” he said.
On the land reform programme, Cde Gumbo said there was a need to mobilise more support for the farmers who were failing to secure loans to buy inputs.
“Our thrust now is to make sure that farmers maximise productivity on farms,” he said.
However, the MDC-T has a different approach and solutions to the country’s challenges. Spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said although the party was yet to launch its election campaign, its strategy was to create more jobs.
“There is 80 percent unemployment in the country and we need to create jobs for all these people. We are talking about peace in Zimbabwe — for everyone to conduct his or her business without being disturbed. We need food for the people because there is hunger in the country,” he said.
Mr Mwonzora said that the MDC-T wanted to ensure that Zimbabweans got access to education.
“Most of our nationalists got bursaries to go to school and we do not see reasons why we cannot educate our people . . . the same should extend to the poor people. We will be looking at the health delivery system . . . people are dying because there is no medicine in public hospitals,” he said.
Mr Mwonzora said more campaign issues were going to be announced during the launch of the party’s election campaign soon.
MDC deputy spokesperson Mr Kurauone Chihwayi said his party would call for the equitable distribution of national wealth.
“We are calling for the restoration of dignity and respect for Zimbabweans regardless of race, creed or belief . . . we are saying no to discrimination.
“The people should be given equal opportunities. Leaders should be elected on the basis of their capabilities . . . look at the MDC–T councils, it’s a disaster. The people were just picked to lead.
“There are bed hoppers and political criminals who have a proven record of abusing people who were elected to lead,” he said.
The elections are expected to be held by March 31 next year and time will tell which party’s campaign issues will carry the day.
So many parties are also going to emerge on the eve of the elections also offering themselves to be voted into office.
Online Reporter