Zanu-PF Harare in restructuring drive

Tichaona Zindoga Political Editor
The restructuring of Zanu-PF’s Harare provincial structures is on course as the party moves from the chaos created by ousted provincial chairman, Cde Amos Midzi.

Acting provincial chairman Cde Godwills Masimirembwa told The Herald last week that when he took over from Cde Midzi, the party’s structures were in shambles and in some cases non-existent while some districts were “fictitious”.

The restructuring exercise, expected to end by June, will see the party tweak its administration and the province doubling its districts from the current 174.

Cde Masimirembwa was optimistic that with proper structures in place, Zanu-PF would be able to wrestle the capital from the opposition MDC-T.

He said: “We are in the process of forming new party cells in the 174 districts of the province of Harare. From the response we are getting, we are confident that the cells we are forming will see the number of party districts double and we will have no less than 300 party districts arising out of the exercise.

“The party’s support base in Harare is huge and with transparent restructuring such as the one we are carrying out, it will now be captured in the party structures.”

He explained that the previous leadership, in their push for the elevation of former Vice President Joice Mujuru, had excluded from the party structures people who supported President Mugabe.

“Because of the illegal regime change agenda that was being championed by the previous leadership in Harare province, any party member who stood by President Mugabe was victimised, removed from party structures and denied his or her constitutional right to participate in party activities. Now this will be a thing of the past,” said Cde Masimirembwa.

He, however, said he was also aware of the shenanigans of the ousted group.

“I am aware that the Gamatox and its remnants within our party structures are trying to regroup in order to frustrate the restructuring exercise. But I am happy to say that the overwhelming majority of party members are solidly behind President Mugabe, rendering the evil machinations of the Gamatox elements useless,” he said.

Cde Masimirembwa said the completion of restructuring would attract new membership and woo opposition supporters.

“Improving the state of affairs is not a one day activity, but a process. I am confident that by the middle of the year we will have the structures in place and we still have the responsibility and duty to reach out to those in the opposition to join the revolutionary party, Zanu-PF.”