Party restructuring guarantees victory:ED

Harare (New Ziana) – THE ongoing restructuring of the ruling Zanu PF party’s organs and continued strengthening from the grassroots level will ensure a resounding victory for the party in next year’s harmonised elections, President Emerson Mnangagwa said on Thursday.

Early this year, the ruling party held elections to choose new provincial leadership, and is now holding its youth elective conference while the women’s league is also expected to follow suit soon.

The main wing is expected to hold its elective congress in October this year as the party rejuvenates itself ahead of the 2023 polls.

Officially opening the 7th Zanu PF Youth League national elective conference, President Mnangagwa said such internal democratic processes were crucial on rejuvenating the party.

“The internal democratic processes of our party must continue to rejuvenate our organisation to guarantee an inter-generational membership base. This must strengthen unity, cohesion and continuity,” he said.

“The grassroots structure of our party must (also) be at the centre of our resounding victory in the forthcoming 2023 harmonised general elections.”

President Mnangagwa added: “The restructured youth league is defining and a re-awakening of our party as anchored by the youth. This further serves as a testimony that our colossal mass party is about history, the present and indeed the future.”

With a bounce in its step, Zanu PF is approaching the 2023 elections with renewed confidence buoyed by its strong showing in the recently held local authority and Parliamentary by-elections, and several successes recorded in delivering Zimbabwe’s development agenda over the past four years.

In the March by-elections, Zanu PF retained all its seats both at Council and Parliamentary level while also taking two National Assembly seats and several local authority wards previously held by the opposition.

In areas in which it lost, Zanu PF managed to narrow significantly its losing margins compared to the previous election.

On the development agenda front, the Government has implemented several game-changing policies and programs including unprecedented infrastructure development across the country.

In light of this, President Mnangagwa encouraged youths to mobilise to defend the gains of independence and to move forward the country’s development agenda.

“As you convene over the next two days, I call upon the youth to commit to defend the legacy and rich heritage bequeathed to us through the protracted armed liberation struggle. Never forget that the independence, freedom and democracy we enjoy as a nation came through the painful sacrifices and bloodshed of the many sons and daughters of this great country, some whom were youths just like you.

“The baton has been passed to you, now it is your turn to defend the revolution, to defend the party and to defend our country. Unlike the young people of yesteryear, who had to use the barrel of the gun, you must now defend this rich heritage through your votes. A vote for Zanu PF is a vote for our independence, freedom and sovereignty.
Together with your affiliate organisations you are called upon to harness the youth demographic dividend riding on modern technologies to mobilise youth to join the party and to register to vote for Zanu PF,” he said.

On its part, President Mnangagwa said, government was opening avenues to empower youths in various economic areas including agriculture, mining and information communication technology, among other sectors.

In agriculture, for example, he said on top of availing land to youths, 500 hectares of land had been set aside in every province for agricultural integrated youth skills development centres, where youths will receive training on various aspects of agriculture.

“The days for you to line up and seek jobs are fading, you must leverage on our country’s endowments to create decent job opportunities towards the growth of local economies and rural industries in our provinces, district, wards and villages. I thus expect to see the emergence of a crop of young, versatile entrepreneurs who will help leap frog our economic growth and emerge as the country’s millionaires. As you do so, always remember the importance of hard, honest work. Our party Zanu PF will never tolerate corruption.”

President Mnangagwa said youths had a critical part to play in Zimbabwe’s reform, modernisation and industrialisation agenda.

He said this was in line with the party’s constitution, which obligates the youth league to mobilise young people for full participation in the political, economic, social and cultural affairs of Zimbabwe.

“It is therefore incumbent on you young people to strengthen your resolve and work for the realisation of our collective national aspirations and Vision2030,” he said.

“Be rest assured that under the Second Republic, the current young generation will continue to be facilitated to establish fulfilling careers and successful enterprises. No one and no youth will be left behind as we build our great motherland Zimbabwe brick upon brick, stone upon stone.”
New Ziana