Story by Vivian Bangamu
ZANU-PF’s grassroots mobilisation drive recorded a strong turnout in all the country’s ten provinces, where party members participated in the National Cell Verification Day.
The exercise is part of the party’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its grassroots structures, with members turning out in large numbers to verify their cell registration details.
Party supporters from Chiwenga Village and surrounding communities met at Chiwenga Dip Tank ground in Wedza as they participated in activities aimed at reinforcing the party’s grassroots structures.
This is where Vice President General (Retired) Dr Constantino Chiwenga underscored the critical role of the party cell verification exercise towards strengthening the ruling party and advancing the national development agenda.
“The cell is the first part of the party. The central committee members are national members. The Central Committee has its secretariat, which is the Politburo, which meets every month in the absence of the Central Committee, which can meet every month due to logistical requirements. All the people up to the president are members of the cells, and this is why we are saying, “Musangano kuma cell”.The cells are the taproot of the party. The tree will have leaves and be able to grow due to the taproot, which represents primary cells. We have heard what is required of us as cell members, and we need to abide by the party constitution. The cell was the first structure to be established by freedom fighters. This would ensure logistical arrangements are improved for the success of the liberation. We are the taproot of the party. If a taproot is affected, the tree will not survive; hence, the cell is the party’s taproot, which should be strengthened for the good of the ruling party,” he said.
Speaking in Manicaland, ZANU-PF National Chairman, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, says grassroots structures are essential in strengthening the ruling party’s foundation, also highlighting that leadership and discipline begin at the household level.
“The cell is the most critical organ of our party. It is where our numbers are verified, where our discipline is anchored, and where the development programmes of the Second Republic are actualised to ensure that no one and no place is left behind. The time for politicking is over; our focus now must be strictly on development,” she said.
ZANU-PF Secretary General, Cde Jacob Mudenda, emphasised the importance of cells in the party as the foundation of the revolutionary party.
“Cells are the backbone of the party. They form the grassroots of the party and facilitate communication between the leadership and the membership. It is through the cells that members express their concerns. The foundation of the party is the cell, and if the foundation is weak, the whole structure is weakened,” he said.
At Muzungaungwe cell in Muzarabani , Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Honourable Zhemu Soda, who is also the Muzarabani District Coordinating Committee Chairman, was among the ruling party members who were verified, and he applauded the high turnout.
“The cell verification exercise here at Muzarabani growth point went well with a turnout of about 90 percent. I was glad to be counted among the cell members because the cell is the foundation of the party. We were led by our cell chairperson, who conducted the roll call and read the names of the cell members as part of verification. She spoke about the good work being done by the President, Dr Mnangagwa, and the recently conducted CAB3, which passed through the lower house and went to the Senate,” he said.
Across Mashonaland West Province, ZANU PF Secretary for Legal Affairs, Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi, said the exercise is now focusing on the digitisation of its membership and strengthening grassroots structures.
“The digitisation of our membership database is meant to ensure that every party member is captured accurately. This will strengthen our structures, improve communication with members, and enable the party to plan and implement its programmes more effectively from the grassroots to the national level. Strong cells remain the foundation of a strong party,” he said.
ZANU PF Mashonaland Central Provincial chairperson Honourable Kazembe Kazembe, following the success of the cell verification, spoke on developments in the country with particular emphasis on Constitutional Amendment Number 3 bill.
“I want to thank all of you for sparing your time to come and be part of this verification exercise. We need to understand our bona fide members as we move forward. I want to inform you that CAB 3 has since passed the test of Parliament and Senate. We have created a good foundation for development through CAB 3. The electoral cycle has been lengthened to allow enough room for development,” he said.
In Matabeleland North, Provincial Chairperson Cde Richard Moyo led the cell verification process, where he emphasised the importance of verifying grassroots support through an organised register system.
“For everyone in ZANU PF, this is a very big day. Make sure that you are in the cell register. We always confirm our membership as ZANU PF because this is what strengthens our party. Even the president of this country went to verify his cell membership, leading by example. This is to ensure we understand our party growth because we are a party that gets new members every day. Even if elections are called any day, we know we are ready,” he said.
ZANU PF Bulawayo Province chairperson, Cde Jabulani Sibanda, also spoke on how cells form the foundation of the party.
“As we go back to the grassroots, we are trying to build our bases because ZANU PF is a revolutionary party. It is a party that is different from all these opposition parties because it is built on revolutionary ideologies,” he said.
Members of the ruling party came out in their numbers in Harare this Saturday to commemorate the National Cell Day, and speaking after cell registration, ZANU PF Harare Province Chairperson, Goodwills Masimirembwa, talked about the importance of cells to the party.
“We recognise the importance of the basic grassroots of the party, this is where it starts, and we are happy to witness that cells in Harare are alive,” he said.
Zanu PF Mashonaland East Provincial Chairman Daniel Garwe explained the Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill during the party cell verification programme at Muchinjike Primary School in Ward 4 .
“The Constitutional Amendment Bill Number three has now provided the opportunity for the nation to forge ahead with the developmental trajectory that is currently underway throughout the country. Election campaigns were dividing the nation, and this is the opportunity to unite the people,” he said.
The ZANU-PF cell verification exercise is a key organisational process aimed at updating and verifying the party’s membership records at the grassroots level.
The exercise seeks to strengthen party structures by ensuring an accurate and up-to-date membership database while enhancing coordination and participation across all cells.
