Harare (New Ziana) -President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reiterated his call for peace before, during and after the harmonised
elections to be held later this year in order to shame detractors who are itching for a cause to discredit the polls.
He repeated the call while addressing the Zanu PF national youth league assembly in the capital on Wednesday.
Zimbabwe is scheduled to hold general elections between July and August this year with some Western countries treating them as a do-or-die
attempt to remove the ruling Zanu PF and replace it with a pliant opposition party which will protect their interests.
The ruling party drew the ire of Western countries led by the United States in 2000 when it expropriated prime agricultural land from the minority whites for redistribution to the previously dispossessed black
majority.
President Mnangagwa said as the general election fast approaches, Zanu PF campaigns and programs should be conducted in a manner that ensured that the harmonised elections would free, fair and credible.
He urged the party youths to be disciplined like their elders since they are the future leaders.
“You can only be future leaders if you are disciplined, if you are organized , if you show respect and you are patriotic to your
motherland,” he said.
“We as your leadership in general, we will continue to support and create a conducive environment for you to continuously improve your leadership capabilities by talking to you and guiding you. But we can only guide those who are willing to be guided. I believe you are some of those who are willing to be guided.”
As cadres of the revolutionary mass party which represents the aspirations of the people, Zanu PF youths should hold peace and unity as
sacrosanct through shunning violence in all its forms, President Mnangagwa said.
He however, emphasised that shunning violence was not a sign of weakness.
“Your strength is in the understanding of peace, your strength is in the
appreciation of unity, your strength is in the appreciation of brotherhood and respect,” he said.
“Peace can only be brought about because people realise war is bad, so let us cherish peace, maintain peace, dream peace, walk peace and teach peace wherever we are.”
President Mnangagwa also challenged the youths to be patriotic as the country’s development trajectory demands.
He said the present national trajectory needs patriotic young people with clarity of their generational mission, vision, loyalty, patriotism and identity.
“Your brothers and sisters that have gone before you sacrificed their lives and limbs for us today to enjoy this freedom, what do you repay them with, except your patriotism, your loyalty, your commitment to develop your motherland Zimbabwe,” he said.
He urged the nation not to wait for foreigners to develop the country for them, but instead to take a leading role and do more to safeguard
the national sovereignty, security and development interests.
New Ziana
