Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has exhorted the country’s traditional leaders to promote peace and harmony within communities through promoting dialogue.
In his opening address to the 21st ZANU (PF) National People’s Conference at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo on Friday, President Mnangagwa said as the custodians of the country’s heritage and culture, traditional leaders are expected to nurture peace and harmony within communities, ensuring that people embrace each other by resolving differences through dialogue.
“I congratulate the Chiefs and people in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces for championing and embracing the Gukurahundi Community Outreach Programme as a mechanism that carries everybody on board,” he said.
Coming soon after Zimbabwe successfully hosted the 44th SADC Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government and assumed the chairmanship of the regional body, President Mnangagwa said the confidence of the SADC members in Zimbabwe reaffirmed the country’s ability as a regional leader in the political, economic and social spheres.
He said the country will during its tenure pursue the collective interests of the peoples and economies of the region. As the conference coincided with the 5th anniversary of SADC Anti-Sanctions Day, Zimbabwe joined all progressive forces in condemning and calling for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the illegal sanctions imposed on the country.
He said the conference should not turn into a talk show but reflect the extent to which both the party and government implemented the resolutions of the 2023 conference.
“I, therefore, urge the Committees of this 21st National People’s Conference to engage in frank and robust discussions. Thereafter, the best possible recommendations, focusing on key issues that affect our Party, communities and the economy, including social services, should be proffered,” he said.
“It is our responsibility to create new pathways as we consolidate socio-economic gains and mitigate the risks and challenges of the future,” President Mnangagwa said.
“The outcome of this Conference has far-reaching implications. ZANU PF is the Party that is leading Zimbabwe, developing every province, district, ward and village; we shall industrialise and modernise our motherland, ourselves.”
New Ziana
