adminZanu-PF’s Central Committee has reportedly realised that addressing rallies was fast becoming an obsolete means of spreading information, hence the switch to computer technology.
According to the party’s Central Committee Report to the 12th Annual National People’s Conference, which ended in Bulawayo on Saturday, the developments come as part of efforts to continually renew the party and keep it relevant while adhering to its founding principles.
“The mandate of the Department of Science and Technology is to transform Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe into a scientific knowledge-based political party and country, in order to enhance the sustainable political and economic development, and positively impact on the social well being of all Zimbabweans,” reads the report.
The report indicates that the party has realised that it has to keep up with contemporary trends to avoid losing touch with the electorate.
“No matter how much depth and convincing information for public consumption the party presents, if vehicles or platforms for disseminating that information are not in sync with modern trends, the party would remain wondering why it is not striking a political chord with the majority of the electorate who are in the 18 to 40 age group.”
The report also indicates that today’s politically competitive world required fast and effective communication tools to yield more influence, more power and dividends.
“Rallies and gatherings as a source for disseminating information are now very limited and limiting in scope and geographic spread,” the report reads.
Also according to the report, the party’s Department of Science and Technology, which is headed by Cde Olivia Muchena, aimed to promote computer literacy and capacities at all levels to make Zanu-PF remain a political giant and retain competitiveness. The report urges the party to take information and communication technologies (ICT) seriously for political mobilisation.
It says that if the party was slow at implementing ICTs, the otherwise positive development could become a threat.
“ICT can help Zanu-PF to relate a regional, continental and global picture to local events. This is the biggest opportunity at present, but can become a threat if the pace of the ICT adoption rate is not accelerated.”
The report showed that financial constraints prevented the party from implementing a number of projects designed to be a launch-pad for the programme this year.
“Most planned activities projects were postponed, including completion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at party headquarters and provincial offices, set up of internet cafes countrywide and the computerised membership data capturing project,” the report reads.
However, the report says despite the challenges, the Department of Science and Technology managed to develop membership computerisation software, designed to give comprehensive data for Zanu-PF members at all structures throughout the country.
Online Reporter