ED deserves five more years: VP Chiwenga

Harare (New Ziana)– President Emmerson Mnangagwa deserves another term of office at the helm of both Zanu PF and government because of his progressive leadership which has resulted in both the governing party and country recording several milestones since he assumed office in 2017, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said on Friday.

He said this in his remarks at the official opening of the 7th Zanu PF national people’s congress being held at a hotel in the capital.

Under President Mnangagwa, the country has, for example, seen unprecedented infrastructure development across several sectors, the re-introduction of a domestic currency, and increased foreign currency inflows, among other notable achievements.

VP Chiwenga said the endorsement of President Mnangagwa by all party structures and congress was evidence of the confidence they reposed in him to lead the country to prosperity.

“While this congress, is supposed to be an elective congress, the party membership through its structures and leagues have already clearly and unanimously endorsed comrade Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa as the President and First Secretary and as the sole Presidential candidate for the ruling party Zanu PF in the 2023 harmonised elections.

“The people have thus spoken, let their will be obeyed so that His Excellency comrade Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa can take us to the Zimbabwe we envision. He is the one and only candidate that we know. Shumba (Lion) Murambwi (President Mnangagwa’s totem), deserves another opportunity to lead us. He has the
credentials, quality, personality, stature, history and track record to lead our party. Let us all register to vote for him and the party in 2023,” he told delegates to the congress.

“The miraculous transformation he has brought in the last five years guarantees him a thunderous victory in the 2023 harmonised elections. The story of our leader is akin to the philosophy around wine, if you want to enjoy its best give it time to mature. Let us give him another five years, I strongly believe that we are better off as a party and country if God grants our leader longevity and gracefully accords him many more years so that he propels our country to the land of our dreams.”

Vice President Chiwenga said under the focused leadership of President Mnangagwa, the country continued to move forward.

Even political opponents, he said, were being left dumbfounded by President Mnangagwa’s work ethic and commitment to building a better Zimbabwe.

“This visionary statesman has redefined the democratic space of our people in a manner that leaves political opponents awestruck. Today, even opposition political parties grudgingly acknowledge his leadership and the
vision he has supplanted on our generation and our nation.

“For instance, several high-ranking opposition figures have re-joined our great party Zanu PF. We now know that ED (President Mnangagwa’s moniker) stands for Emmerson Delivers. Our party Zanu PF is therefore blessed to have him at its helm.,” he said.

Vice President Chiwenga commended President Mnangagwa for championing policies such as the engagement and re-engagement agenda, and vision 2030 under which the country aims to become an upper-middle income economy.

These and other policies are all aimed at transforming the country’s economy and in turn social standing of its citizens.

“The unambiguous international stance of our leader bids us all to be friends with everyone and have no enemies. Through the policy of engagement and re-engagement, the country has managed to unlock the unnecessary tension that has been hitherto limiting our potential to forge friendships and create business opportunities. Slowly but surely our country is opening up and attracting big businesses in various sectors,” he said.

Meanwhile, VP Chiwenga said, with every party cadre solidly behind President Mnangagwa, victory in the next elections was certain.

“Our party Zanu PF has a perennial track record of being a winner, our winning formula is anchored on our foundational document, our party constitution. The party constitution enshrines tenets of unity, and peace as fundamental principles to guide our interactions both within and outside the party.”

Over 3 500 delegates are attending the congress which is running under the theme “Building a prosperous Zimbabwe leaving no one and no place behind.”
New Ziana