Online Reporter
THE INTERVIEW WITH JOSEPH MADZIMURE
ZANU PF will, in about three months’ time hold it’s Annual National People’s Conference. Zimpapers Politics Hub Senior Reporter Joseph Madzimure (JM) spoke to ZANU PF Secretary-General, Dr Obert Mpofu (OM) on implementation of the resolutions from the last conference and related issues.
JM: Last year the party came up with a number of resolutions and we are now left with about three months before the 22nd ZANU PF National People’s Conference. How far have you gone in terms of implementing the previous resolutions?
OM: Several events have been witnessed this year, to do with the programmes of the party through Government. We have seen the President officiating or commissioning major projects.
President Mnangagwa has embarked on a number of projects like roads, public infrastructure, mining, agriculture, and tourism. This has seen the country prove to its citizenry and to the electorate that ZANU PF is a serious party that cares for its people.
These projects have created a lot of employment in the country, which of course detractors will not accept, but the fact is that Zimbabwe is different.
A lot of sectors are being worked on, dams, mines, agriculture, effectively all the sectors are being catered for, and this is being supervised directly by President Mnangagwa.
In other situations, you get reports from ministers, even MPs, but in this case, all projects are under the microscopic eye of the President, so we are happy that the party resolutions are being implemented.
JM: With only three months left until the next conference, how are the preparations progressing?
OM: Regarding the preparations for this year’s conference, we have begun our efforts. The national chairman, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, has directed us to influence committees to start organising meetings focused on the conference.
This year, the conference is scheduled to take place in Manicaland, in line with our rotational system for conferences.
We assure the public that we are on track to make this a successful event. As for the date, we do not have one yet. We will await guidance from the national chairman, who will provide direction following meetings related to the preparatory work for the conference.
JM: The party developed several resolutions during the last conference. Can you provide an update on the implementation progress of these resolutions? Additionally, how do you monitor their implementation across various Government departments?
OM: The Government’s actions are guided by resolutions passed by the party. We have established a technical committee of senior officials to review these resolutions, assessing what has been implemented and what is still outstanding. We take these resolutions seriously, as they serve as a roadmap for our implementation strategy.
All party organs are committed to this responsibility, ensuring we remain accountable to the electorate. We are also focused on the 2030 agenda and actively monitoring our progress.
JM: Looking at the party’s calendar, it was supposed to set up branches, districts and District Coordinating Committees and provincial structures next year. What is the position?
OM: This is the process which the national political commissar is working on, it seems to be taking too long, and members are a bit worried about the time it has taken to set this up, but I know the commissar is really doing his best to finalise this issue.
The cell structures were started a long time ago, the commissar is mopping up this process to find out exactly what has been done so far, but we are working on finalising it.
JM: It seems party members are eagerly positioning themselves. What’s your take?
OM: This is normal in a mass party like ours, but we are discourage people from using money to get support from members.
Members should reflect on their aspirations and expectations for the party while adhering to its constitution. Deviating from this framework often leads to complications. We often see ambitious comrades using various tactics to gain popularity, which can significantly impact their standing within the party
Members should go through their aspirations, whatever they expect to happen to the party, in a manner that is within the constitution, but once you stray from the constitution, you always have problems. We see quite a lot of attempts from ambitious comrades who use all sorts of tactics to gain popularity. Because we are a progressive party, a lot of people want to be politicians.
JM: There is a growing trend of suspensions within the party. What is happening?
OM: The party has its ways of dealing with such issues, guided by the constitution.
Most of the cases that we have referred to have been brought before the leadership, the Politburo, and the Central Committee, and decisions have been taken after a thorough scrutiny of those issues.
We may have tendencies by those who want to position themselves in trying to stop others from becoming whatever they want to be in the party, but I think at the end of it, the party uses proper systems, proper legal systems to deal with such issues, and as a result, in a manner that is acceptable to those that are aggrieved.
JM: Thank you Cde SG
OM: It’s my pleasure.
