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Herald Reporters
The ruling Zanu PF party has new provincial leaders whose election was confirmed this week by the Politburo, setting the stage for rejuvenation ahead of the March by-elections and the 2023 harmonised elections.
During this week’s Politburo meeting, President Mnangagwa urged party members to be united saying there were no winners or losers in the just-ended polls. He implored new office bearers and those contestants who did not manage to secure posts to work closely for the good of the party.
The new provincial chairpersons declared readiness to mobilise new members to ensure the party secures five million votes in next year’s elections. Below are some of the sentiments expressed by the new office bearers.
MASHONALAND WEST
Mashonaland West was the only province to elect a female leader with Cde Mary Mliswa-Chikoka sweeping into office after beating a formidable field of contestants.
Cde Mliswa-Chikoka said the recently held polls were an eye opener to most women to aim for higher political positions usually perceived as preserves for males. She said the poll outcome showed how democratic the party was.
Cde Mliswa-Chikoka contested against three males including Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister, Cde Kindness Paradza, former youth chairman, Cde Vengai Musengi and war veteran and ex-ZBC chief executive, Cde Happison Muchechetere.
She emerged the winner after polling 16 930 votes.
“As reiterated by our National Political Commissar, the just-ended provincial elections were meant to rejuvenate and strengthen the party ahead of the 2023 general elections. There are no winners or losers, but the party has won and it’s now hands on deck and no time to waste as we mobilise support for President Mnangagwa.
She said to rejuvenate the party in the province, there was need to pursue Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS-1) as enunciated by President Mnangagwa.
MASVINGO
Cde Robson Mavhenyengwa is the new party leader in Masvingo and was in bullish mood on the prospects of the ruling party in the province in the forthcoming elections.
He rallied all party cadres to work in unison to ensure the party retained its dominance in the province. Cde Mavhenyengwa called on those he contested against in the elections to join him in uniting and growing the Zanu PF brand.
He said there was no winner or loser in the recent polls saying all energy should be on ensuring President Mnangagwa and Zanu PF are victorious in 2023 general elections.
“I am calling on all party members in Masvingo to unite now that (internal) elections are behind us. We are all children of Zanu PF and our task should be to build the party as a key province of Zanu PF so that we win resoundingly in 2023.
“I am calling on the person that I contested against, Cde Ezra Chadzamira, to join me and me also joining him so that we build our party Zanu PF together towards a thumping win in 2023.”
Cde Mavhenyengwa said he would pull all the stops to help Zanu PF retain all the seats the party won in 2018 while also reclaiming the Masvingo Urban seat from the opposition.
MATABELELAND SOUTH
Matabeleland South incoming provincial coordinating committee chairman, Cde Mangaliso Ndlovu said the main focus of his executive is to consolidate its existing support base and recruit new members.
He said the New Dispensation was all about the inclusion of all progressive ideas from the youth, women, main wing and all related stakeholders.
Cde Ndlovu said more programmes will be rolled out to attract new active voters.
“We are going to the drawing board as the new executive and our goal is to grab everything in the impeding by-elections.
In the long run, we want to maintain our dominance in all the constituencies. We now know what happened in the last elections where we lost one National Assembly seat out of 13 and we are taking corrective measures.”
HARARE
Cde Godwills Masimirembwa coasted to victory in Harare Province and thanked Zanu PF members who supported him during the internal plebiscite.
“As His Excellency and First Secretary of the party President Mnangagwa has indicated, there are no winners or losers. It was really a question of choosing those who will lead Harare Metropolitan province for now.
“I am grateful to those who rendered their support to me. The work is already cut out for us.
“First of all, it is to unify members of the party. We went for an election and what happens is bruising battles at times, unfortunate words and exchanges do take place during elections. We would want to build bridges and make sure that party members are united,” said Cde Masimirembwa.
He urged those who contested the provincial elections to remain as a one family despite the outcome of the results.
“We are one family. It was an internal contestation and it must remain so. We must now be united, moving forward to build the five million votes plus for President Mnangagwa in 2023.”
The province will be contesting for 12 parliamentary constituencies and 33 municipal wards during the by-elections set for the end of March.
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
Mashonaland Central retained Cde Kazembe Kazembe as provincial chair after a tough battle with Cde Tafadzwa Musarara.
He thanked people in the province for the confidence and trust they bestowed in him during the provincial elections.
He said what was critical now was to unite people in the province ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections and to ensure that President Mnangagwa got more than five million votes.
“A lot needs to be done now and beyond and we need to work together to improve lives of the people and improve our provincial GDP. As we work together towards one vision and one goal that of vision 2030, youths, war veterans, women and men will not be left behind.”
MATABELELAND NORTH
In Matabeleland North, Cde Richard Moyo, who is also the Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, retained the provincial chairmanship after beating Cde Believe Gaule.
He said his vision as the ruling party’s provincial chairman and Minister of State was to make sure that come 2023, Zanu-PF cruised to a resounding victory and reclaimed all Parliamentary and local authority seats in Matabeleland North, with President Mnangagwa also getting the lion’s share of votes in the presidential elections.
Cde Moyo said his immediate task was to reclaim two Parliamentary constituencies in the upcoming by-elections in Binga North and Tsholotsho South. There are also six wards where by-elections will be held in the province.
He said he will work hard to make sure the party fields the right and suitable candidates with the charisma to win elections for the party in the province.
MANICALAND
Cde Mike Madiro remained chairman for Manicaland Province and urged party cadres to remain united and contribute to the attainment of five million votes targeted ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.
“I urge Manicaland province to embrace each other and move forward for the betterment of the nation. Everyone is a winner and as such, we should put all our efforts to build five million votes so all of us are included to achieve,” he said.
MIDLANDS
Midlands Provincial chairman Cde Larry Mavima who won the elections uncontested said he was grateful to the people of Midlands and pledged to be a firm, but very fair leader.
Cde Mavima who is also Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister said he would work hard to unite the people of Midlands as the province geared up for by-elections and next year’s harmonised elections.
“I am very happy that the people of Midlands trusted me and I am going to hit the ground running as a firm but very fair chairman. Firstly, we will be healing the wounds and make sure that we go to the elections as a united front.
“President Mnangagwa has reiterated that divided we fall, united we stand so we would want to push Vision 2030 as a united people and this will be my major task to ensure we deliver the President’s expectations,” he said.
BULAWAYO
Former war veterans leader Cde Jabulani Sibanda made a political comeback when he swept to victory in Bulawayo.
Cde Sibanda yesterday could not comment on his victory or plans saying he was in key party meetings.
MASHONALAND EAST
The new provincial chairman Cde Daniel Garwe said he would first focus on uniting the province.
“First thing that we will be working on is to unite people and focusing on discipline. We want Mashonaland East to be a province of disciplined cadres.
“Once we achieve that we then start the mobilisation programme of the five million votes. We will encourage everyone to register to vote.
“Those without identification cards should have them. Those who are not yet in Zanu PF are encouraged to join the party.”
“We are also mindful of investors who want to invest in our province. They are welcome, but they must form partnerships with locals. They must create employment for the locals.”
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