Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino, Zimpapers Politics Hub
ZANU-PF First Secretary, President Mnangagwa yesterday urged the party’s Central Committee members to make use of the party’s mass mobilisation efforts to reclaim urban constituencies and wards because the party is alive and strong.
He said the lively character of the party showcased during the recent by-election victories in various parts of the country at constituency and ward levels, was a loud statement of its ever-growing strength and presence.
“Following the Party’s by-election victories in Mashonaland West province, our mass mobilisation efforts secured resounding victories in parliamentary and local authority by-elections recently held in Harare, Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North, Manicaland and Masvingo provinces.
“The results are a loud statement that Zanu-PF is alive and strong. We are marching hand-in-hand with the people of our great motherland, Zimbabwe . . . I, thus, call upon all members of the party, including us, members of the Central Committee, to play our part to win back more urban constituencies and wards,” President Mnangagwa said.
Zanu-PF last month won all four by-elections for Gutu East and Insiza North constituencies, and local authority seats for Ward 4 in Binga and Ward 5 in Chipinge. The party also marched victorious in the Glen View South constituency, Harare’s Ward 36 and Chinhoyi’s Ward 4 by-elections.
President Mnangagwa reminded Central Committee members that party mobilisation is a continuous process whose ultimate goal is to ensure an engagement with the concerns of the masses to improve their quality of life since the national development agenda towards Vision 2030 is “leaving no one and no place behind”.
To work towards programmes that lift people out of poverty, he also challenged party structures to make deliberate efforts to work with local authorities at the grassroots level to lift people out of poverty and not be distracted by sideshows.
“Lifting our people out of poverty and into prosperity should begin at that level (grassroots), ward by ward and district by district. The combined efforts within our communities should impact our overall national prosperity.
“Let us refuse to be distracted by sideshows and narratives that feed the agenda of opportunists, bent on diverting us from the accelerated development, unity and peace that is evident and currently prevailing in our country,” he added.
The President further commended Zanu-PF affiliate organisations for ensuring a positive visibility and vibrancy for the party through initiatives and programmes that involve youthful cadres who should be “viewed as comrades in arms”.
The Chitepo School of Ideology and the Commissariat Department were directed to scale-up development programmes for new members, including those within affiliates to enhance cadre and leadership development.
“Zanu-PF ihomwe inokwana vana vese vemu Zimbabwe. There is room for all Zimbabweans from different walks of life, in Zanu-PF,” President Mnangagwa emphasised.
