By ZBC Reporter
The ZANU PF President and First Secretary, President Emmerson Mnangagwa says preparations for the holding of the revolutionary party’s internal democratic primary elections should begin in earnest, adding the party must ready itself for a massive win in this year’s general elections.
The President said this as he chaired the 367th Ordinary Session of the Politburo at the party headquarters in Harare this Thursday.
“More importantly, we must all gear ourselves to work with other structures in the ongoing mobilisation work towards our Party’s thunderous victory in the upcoming 2023 Harmonised General Elections.
“The Party Manifesto must be finalised as the other critical aspects related to our internal Election Road Map unfold, Equally, all Provinces are directed to constitute themselves in readiness for responsive grassroots-based mobilisation campaigns ahead of the Harmonised General Elections.
“Provinces must further raise the requisite resources for campaigns at their level Voter registration and grassroots-oriented mobilisation strategies centred at the Cells and Villages should continue. Nothing must be left to chance.
He commended the delegates for the ongoing Cell Verification Exercise undertaken across provinces.
“Organising our people to exercise their sacred right to vote for the defence of independence, Sovereignty, constitutionalism, freedom, and democracy is everyone’s responsibility. United as ZANU and ZAPU, ZANLA and ZIPRA, we waged a protracted armed war so that our people can enjoy free, fair and transparent elections.
Regarding the forthcoming general elections, President Mnangagwa said ZANU PF is geared to defend the gains of the liberation struggle through the ballot box.
“We will defend this right from all neo-colonial threats. We are aware of the nefarious machinations to attack and discredit our national institutions. As the people of Zimbabwe, let us remain vigilant and not allow ourselves to be hoodwinked by entities who are against the progress, economic growth, peace and unity of our country,” he said.
He added, “Our economy is projected to continue on a growth trajectory. I challenge the Politburo to remain mindful of the centrality of the economy as a key component of our Party’s political and socio-economic development agenda. Increased production and productivity across our economic sectors are critical to lifting our people out of poverty and into prosperity. We are a Party that brings life-transforming economic about sustainable empowerment to the people of our beloved country.”
President Mnangagwa said to date, the country’s fiscal, monetary and favourable ease of doing business reforms, coupled with a conducive investment climate, are yielding positive results.
“The mining sector is well on course to realise the set target of US$12 billion by the end of 2023, while the Tourism and Hospitality industry is on a rebound. and the construction, modernisation, and upgrading rehabilitation of our major national infrastructure is well on course. The Land Reform Programme is irreversible and our agriculture sector is recording great success. We are determined to feed our people and attain food sovereignty. The recent record-breaking wheat harvest, which ensured that we are self-sufficient in wheat, attests to this fact. Further, the current 2022-2023 Summer cropping season, which has seen an increase in the total planted area, together with favourable rainfall patterns, gives impetus for the sector to register additional growth.”
Said the president, “Our communities are the rightful custodians of the land, flora and fauna, hence matters related to environmental management and Conservation including social development should benefit the people of our country,” adding, “Non-Governmental Organisations must be transparent and accountable in all their activities. We cannot have unknown and faceless western-owned entities and NGOs, benefiting from our natural resources by way of carbon credits, in some cases with close to I million hectares of land in a single province, purportedly under their purview.”
President Mnangagwa also announced that this year’s 43rd National Independence Celebrations will be held in Mt Darwin, Mashonaland Central Province.