Online Reporter
Joseph Madzimure-Zimpapers Politics Hub
ZANU PF is escalating its grassroots mobilisation strategy in Harare Metropolitan, aiming to consolidate recent gains and win over voters in the traditional opposition stronghold.
This renewed drive focuses on directly popularising the party and explaining Government programmes to voters at ward and cell level.
Provincial chairman, Cde Godwills Masimirembwa, said the party was capitalising on what he described as an “upward trajectory” by actively “fishing from the opposition pond” in the capital.
“We are focusing on popularising the party at grassroots level by explaining the programmes which are being implemented by the Government. Popularising the party means going out there to explain the programmes which are being implemented, and to which credit must be given to President Mnangagwa.
“The move reflects the party’s confidence in attracting new members and strengthening its political position,” he said.
This strategic push comes as the party seeks to build on its current footing in the province, where it holds 8 of the 30 parliamentary constituencies and 12 council seats – a significant increase from its position a decade ago.
A central pillar of the mobilisation is the annual National Cell Day, first introduced in 2022. Preparations have already commenced for this year’s edition.
The event is dedicated to a vigorous membership recruitment and verification exercise to audit and strengthen the party’s foundational units, known as cells or villages.
Data captured at this level is relayed to create a robust national membership database.
“Harare province will excel in conducting National Cell Day to demonstrate the party’s support base among the youth, the women’s league, the main wing, and the war veterans league. That is the type of cell that we want,” Cde Masimirembwa said.
The chairman also highlighted the impact of the “Dzokai Kumusha/Home Ekhaya” programme, which he said is drawing former opposition supporters back to Zanu PF.
“We have observed a considerable return of members from the opposition. There has been a notable increase in individuals joining our party through this initiative. We are witnessing substantial numbers reuniting with the party from the opposition.”
There has been strong attendance, including from first-time voters, at recent inter-district meetings held across the province’s six zones, Cde Masimirembwa said.
“We want to continue with that momentum because we must take from the opposition, we must be able to persuade, we must be able to make sure that people in the opposition see that Zanu PF is the party that one should belong to and not the opposition. The province will enter 2026 re-energised and reinvigorated,” he said.
