Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, [email protected]
Zanu-PF is gearing up for the second round of the National Cell Day today, an exercise that allows the ruling party to assess its membership base, acknowledge new and continuing members, and honour those who have died.
The National Cell Day is designed to focus on a sustained and vigorous membership recruitment exercise while verifying the party’s existing database.
It will also be used to verify existing members, ensuring that they are accurately accounted for and remain active in the party.
The month’s exercise is a follow-up to another National Cell Day that was held in January. Under President Mnangagwa’s leadership, the party has experienced significant membership growth, as evidenced by strong victories in most by-elections.
Introduced in 2022, National Cell Day is a key pillar of Zanu-PF’s strategy to rejuvenate its mass mobilisation structures.
In an interview yesterday, Zanu-PF Political Commissar Cde Munyaradzi Machacha said, according to the party’s Constitution, a cell structure is composed of 50 members or more.
“The National Cell Day is a crucial exercise for the party as cells are strategic grassroots party organs that ensure vibrancy within our organisation and also measure our strengths while reflecting the likely outcome if an election were to be held in any part of the country at any given time,” he said.
“The exercise reflects directly on the strengths of the party and the opportunities to recruit more members and grow the party,” said Cde Machacha.
“Zanu-PF is a party that renews itself constantly through recruitment, embracing new technologies and taking into account new trends that make us a progressive party.”
Cde Machacha said on National Cell Day, every party member, from the Presidium and Politburo to the Central Committee, is required to attend the event.
“We will assess our strengths and verify whether our members are registered to vote, making this a very important occasion for the party. We have communicated with all party leaders to make sure that they also attend the exercise in their respective cells. Every party member must carry a National Identification (ID) document to check that their personal information was captured correctly in our database,” he said.
“The party has also adopted digital technology, so the exercise will allow members to cross-check that the right personal details were captured in the database and any errors are corrected.”
Cde Machacha explained the importance of cell structures in Zanu-PF, describing the organs as the engine room of mobilisation, organisation and community engagement that serve as the first point of contact between the party and the citizens it serves.
“Across provinces, districts, wards and branches, members are intensifying efforts to strengthen party structures, verify membership records, recruit new members and ensure that every cell is fully prepared for this landmark occasion,” he said.
“The programme continues to demonstrate Zanu-PF’s unwavering commitment to grassroots participation and people-centred leadership.
“The significance of the day is deeply rooted in the revolutionary values that have sustained the party throughout its history.
“It’s through strong cells that communities remain organised, united and empowered to contribute meaningfully to national development and economic transformation,” he said.
Cde Machacha added that the exercise will be used to thank members for the massive support they gave to the campaign for the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3.
“From urban centres to the most remote rural communities, preparations are now in the final stretch as members position themselves for one of the most important events on the party calendar.
“We held meetings with the provincial chairpersons and provincial political commissars of all our 10 provinces, notifying them of the very important task of mobilising all our cell members to participate in the National Cell/Village Day,” he added.
