Sundaymail Editor
AS the much-anticipated August 23 election is now upon us, it is important to applaud Zimbabweans for their political maturity.
Dr Obert Moses Mpofu
The country has been having regular elections since 1980, as per the country’s laws, and this has culminated in an electorate that is astute and mature.
Zimbabweans are now well-exposed to how “our” democracy should function and fully appreciate the need for peaceful and fair elections.
The country may be a young democracy, but its people have come a long way and realise the futility of conflict.
We are all Zimbabweans, united by our common history and purpose.
My party’s presidential candidate, Cde Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, has been promoting this message throughout this campaign season by discouraging all forms of violence and exhorting people to embrace peace and unity.
The President, through his campaign message, has been able to stem out all forms of disunity, be they political factions and tribalism, which is one of the evident signs of political maturity.
This unity is visible and clear for everyone to see, as shown by the fact that all the President’s rallies have been attended by people from all walks of life, even those who had previously distanced themselves from the party such as former Vice Presidents Phelekezela Mphoko and Joice Mujuru, as well as former ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa, who have come out in support of the party.
It demonstrates President Mnangagwa’s ability to unite Zimbabweans.
My party ZANU PF, under President Mnangagwa, is indeed a united front, which holds no grudges and is more than eager to welcome everyone, both new and old members, including even those who were actively working against the nation as agents of the opposition and the West.
It is testament to the President’s philosophy of “leaving no one and no place behind”.
It is this philosophy that President Mnangagwa has also applied to his economic policies, which have seen him push for and implement devolution.
As a matter of fact, inclusive development has become the order of the day under the New Dispensation.
Even renowned opposition party activists such as Paddington Japajapa have been quick to dump their fast-sinking parties and have since joined the colossal revolutionary party.
President Mnangagwa’s motivation to correct historical distortions and unite the country has been shown by how he has bestowed national hero status on Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole and James Chikerema, who were among the most important players in our country’s revolution.
Similarly, the President recently honoured and assisted former ZANLA and ZIPRA commanders — including Cde Mphoko, Colonel Tshinga Dube (Retired) and Colonel Thomas Ngwenya (Retired).
They were invited to State House and each bestowed with the honour they deserve, as well as top-of-the-range vehicles.They have also since had their livelihoods and welfare improved.
Clearly, what my party, ZANU PF, has been able to do under the Second Republic has not been experienced before in the history of politics in this country, region and even beyond.
Zimbabweans should acknowledge this by giving my party, ZANU PF, and its presidential candidate a fresh five-year mandate. President Mnangagwa is the first leader to cover and visit all of the country’s 10 provinces, rallying every Zimbabwean to get behind the call to develop our beloved country.
The continued exhortation at rallies and public addresses for non-violence shows how much of a peace ambassador President Mnangagwa is. It solidifies his position as perhaps one of the greatest nationalists to come from this land.
President ED Mnangagwa has also empowered a lot of people, particularly the country’s youth, who now occupy important spaces in both trade and commerce, as well as in agriculture and mining. In fact, even though he inherited a country bedevilled by many challenges, he has been able to steer Zimbabwe out of the abyss.
Of note is the fact that Zimbabwe has managed to have a permanent solution to the power crisis through the expansion of Kariba South, as well as the completion of Hwange Units 7 and 8.
Even more impressive is that President Mnangagwa has been able to make all these achievements under the gruelling weight of sanctions.
My party’s candidate, Cde Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, has mastered the art of steering Zimbabwe out of murky waters, as shown by his commendable management of Covid-19, as Zimbabwe topped the list of countries that managed to save the lives of its citizens.
In order to spur the country’s economy to greater heights, President Mnangagwa has presided over the most ambitious and successful infrastructure development initiative that Zimbabwe has ever witnessed in its history, through massive road rehabilitation projects such as the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu highway, as well as the modernisation and expansion of the Beitbridge Border Post, a necessary requirement for the facilitation and improvement of trade through the port, which is the largest and busiest inland port of entry on the African continent.
There seems to be no signs of stopping, as more massive infrastructure projects are in the works.
Plans are underway to dualise the Harare-Mutare highway up to Beira for Zimbabwe to have easy access to the Beira Port, which is only 600 kilometres away from Harare, as opposed to other ports.
This will improve the movement of goods and facilitate enhanced trade between Zimbabwe and other countries.
All this has been made possible by the impressive level of political maturity demonstrated by Zimbabweans, who have ignored side-shows and distractions from detractors seeking to destroy our beloved nation.
They have also heeded the President’s call to unite and develop the country.
The above are far from being exhaustive examples of the political maturity demonstrated by Zimbabweans.
Five more years for President Mnangagwa and ZANU PF will take us closer to finally completing Zimbabwe’s story.
Whatever the outcome of these watershed harmonised elections, they should be embraced by all Zimbabweans, as it is for the benefit of all of us and our great nation.
Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan — which are now in ruins, courtesy of outside interference — should serve as a reminder to us all that violence and allowing the enemy to divide us will be catastrophic.
Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans and we should chart our own path without outside interference!
Viva ZANU PF and President ED Mnangagwa!
Dr Obert Moses Mpofu is the Secretary-General of ZANU PF. He writes in his own capacity.
Online Reporter