By Zachary Gava
Harare, (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday challenged the ruling ZANU PF party leadership to intensify policy implementation, strengthen accountability and accelerate grassroots development, declaring that the country’s march towards Vision 2030 remains irreversible.
Addressing the party’s 131st Ordinary Session of the Central Committee in Harare on Thursday, the President – who is also the First Secretary of ZANU PF – said the focus for the remainder of the year must be on delivering tangible improvements in people’s lives.
This, he said, could be achieved through effective governance, quality service delivery and economic empowerment.
“It is in this spirit and with these issues in mind that, I challenge the Party to re-calibrate and re-focus. Hard work continues, and under ZANU PF, the people shall forever come first,” President Mnangagwa said.
He stressed that all levels of government and party structures must remain accountable to citizens, adding that improved local governance, housing, water and sanitation, as well as responsive social protection programmes, were critical to achieving the country’s development aspirations.
“Our elderly, people with disabilities, the vulnerable and child-headed households must continue to feel the compassion of our ZANU PF-led Government.
Quality living standards, housing, water and sanitation are critical aspects of the society we all want by 2030.
Hence, results from the local governance systems and service delivery by Local Authority are non-negotiable. We must be accountable to the people,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was recording notable progress across key productive sectors, including agriculture, mining, manufacturing, energy, tourism and information communication technologies, which he said were driving employment creation and economic modernisation.
He also highlighted the impact of empowerment programmes targeting women, youth and war veterans, saying the initiatives were expanding opportunities in agriculture, aquaculture, mining, construction, manufacturing, agro-processing and logistics while promoting financial inclusion.
“The ongoing journey towards Vision 2030 to become an Upper Middle-Income Society is irreversible,” he said.
The President urged party leaders to use the Central Committee meeting to honestly assess progress, celebrate achievements and address shortcomings through practical interventions.
“Where we have succeeded, let us celebrate and purposefully replicate for the collective good of our people. Where we have faced challenges, let us honestly introspect and make timely and appropriate interventions,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also called for stronger grassroots mobilisation, saying the party’s Cell and Village structures remained the foundation of its organisational strength.
He commended the successful Cell and Village verification exercise conducted during the recent National Cell Day, describing it as essential for maintaining accurate membership records and strengthening party structures.
“It is at Cell/Village level where the ideology of ZANU PF is nurtured and where developmental needs of the people are identified. If the Cell/Village structure is robust, the Party remains invincible and unstoppable,” he said.
On electoral preparedness, President Mnangagwa congratulated the party for retaining all contested wards in the recent Tsholotsho by-elections, but warned against complacency ahead of forthcoming by-elections in Hwange, Mazowe, Mudzi and Mutare.
“Victory is a continuous responsibility,” he said, urging party structures to remain organised and closely engaged with communities.
The President further hailed Zimbabwe’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term, describing it as recognition of the country’s growing international standing and commitment to peace, security and multilateralism.
“Our foreign policy ‘friend to all and an enemy to none’ is yielding evident results,” he said.
President Mnangagwa urged the Central Committe to formulate policies that directly improve livelihoods across the country through expanded infrastructure, better social services and sustained economic growth.
“Economic prosperity for all must motivate and inform our discussions,” he said. “I urge us to make policy recommendations and decisions that advance development and prosperity for household by household, village by village; ward by ward; branch by branch; and district by district.”
New Ziana
