Goromonzi (New Ziana) – The ruling Zanu PF party must adapt to modern ways of communications and operations to ensure its long-term survival in the face of the ever changing society, the party’s commissariat department has said.
This recommendation is contained in a Central Committee report that was tabled before the Zanu PF annual National People’s Conference which ended on Saturday.
In the report, the Commissariat department, headed by Victor Matemadanda said: “The party must embrace the dynamics of change gracefully and accept that unless it adapts to the changing world order, its huge fund of credibility built on the legacy of the liberation struggle may easily be eroded by negative forces.”
The party, the report said, should translate the political dominance it enjoys across the country to social media platforms as well.
“Up until now, the party has at best, been reacting to narratives propagated by the opposition to a point almost suggesting that the party is not tech-savvy.
“The situation should no-longer subsist due to the risk of alienating the population that lives in a borderless and virtual world. There is active information traffic flow in this segment of society and the party can only ignore it to its own peril.”
The commissariat department, according to the report, also intends to set up a research unit to ensure the party stays in sync with prevailing trends.
“Research is vital in keeping the party connected to trends and events in the environment. To this end, programmes and activities that are not informed by the demographic and psychographic realities of our time risk to resemble a person who whistles in a graveyard in the hope to be heard by a dead friend.
“The party can only stay relevant and in vogue when the basis of its activities is evidence based.”
The central committee report noted that the party remained strong and was capable of growing through, for example, continued collaborations with progressive civil society movements, churches, students unions, empowerment lobby groups and cultural groupings.
On the international front, the commissariat department intends to cultivate strong global networks with influential organisations, businesses and universities.
These networks, the report noted, would yield useful exchange of information and knowledge which may contribute solutions to the challenges facing Zimbabwe.
The party also intends to vigorously engage with the country’s diaspora population.
“Diasporans are dangerously exposed to propaganda from Zimbabwe and the outside world. In the absence of a strong presence of the party voice in both the traditional and social media fora, including effective organisational presence, membership to Zanu PF becomes open to a few thus reducing its influence among the diasporans,” the report said.
“The party needs a clear policy to assist in supporting mobilisation effort in the diaspora. To date, lack of a centralised point of call has resulted in conflicting instructions and messaging coming from different departments.”
New Ziana
