The Sunday News
Rutendo Nyeve in Esigodini
ZANU-PF National Chairperson who is also the Minister of Defence and Security Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has commended the people of Umzingwane constituency for voting in defence of the country’s independence, sovereignty and national development.
She said the vote was a statement that they were grounded in the national ethos as guided by the objectives of the liberation struggle while taking aim at the bullish West for pretending to be paragons of democracy when they were not.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri, who was guest of honour at the Umzingwane National Assembly Member Brig-Gen (Rtd) Levi Mayihlome’s victory celebrations held in Ward 14, Umzingwane district, Matabeleland South Province yesterday, urged party supporters to remain united in support of national development. The ceremony was also a celebration of his appointment to the position of Deputy Minister of Defence and Security.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri told the gathering that the Second Republic was working tirelessly to improve the livelihoods of the citizenry by leaving no one and no place behind.
“Cdes, today I have come with a special message from President Mnangagwa to thank you for voting resoundingly for the Team Zanu-PF in the 2023 Harmonised Elections. His Excellency is thanking the provincial leadership, Central Committee, National Consultative Assembly (NCA), Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC), District Co-ordinating Committee (DCC) and all of us party cadres who worked tirelessly to ensure a thunderous Zanu-PF victory in the August 2023 elections.
“Much as our detractors tried to effect regime change, we put their effort to shame by voting resoundingly for Zanu-PF. The people of Zimbabwe gave Shumba Murambwi another five years to lead Zimbabwe and champion national development guided by his philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind. I also wish to thank you all for observing peace before, during and after the elections as called on by President Mnangagwa,” said Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri.
She said they were grateful that the people voted to preserve the country’s legacy, heritage and the future of their children saying the imperialist West and their puppets cannot teach Zimbabwe lessons on democracy as they fought for it. Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri also laid out some of the achievements of the Second Republic as well as how it was going about in addressing challenges faced by communities.
“In the past few years, the country is now the fastest-growing economy in the Sadc region (Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 8,5 percent in 2021, 6,5 percent in 2022 and 5,5 percent in 2023). In 2024 GDP is expected to decline to 3,5 percent due to the El Nino induced erratic rains and subdued commodity prices on the international markets. Government is introducing new measures especially fiscal and monetary policies aimed at stabilising the Zimbabwean dollar vis-à-vis the US dollar,” said Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri.
Turning to food and nutrition, Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said the Second Republic has moved the nation to a food self-sufficient and surplus economy through programmes such as climate proofed Pfumvudza/Intwasa – free inputs, dam construction to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The dams include Gwayi-Shangani, Tuli-Manyange and Fakanye Dam, among others, while undertaking irrigation development as well as livestock re-stocking programme and de-siltation of dams.
Brig Gen (Rtd) Mayihlome expressed gratitude towards his constituency while expressing his commitment to ensure there was development within the constituency. He also gave an update on the programmes lined up for the constituency with some of the development work at an advanced stage.
“We are working on the Old Bulawayo-Gwanda Road under the proposed Build Operate Transfer whose project proposal is being reviewed by Zimbabwe Development Agency and the Infrastructural Development Bank in line with the investment regulations which require the feasibility study to be carried out, reviewed and approved before the project is approved for implementation,” said Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mayihlome.
He however, took a swipe at some Non-Governmental Organisations which he said were in the business of spreading falsehoods within the constituency to pursue regime change saying they must stick to their regulated mandate. The victory celebrations were also attended by Matabeleland South Zanu-PF Provincial Chairman who is also the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife Cde Mangaliso Ndlovu, traditional leaders as well as senior Government officials. — @nyeve14
