‘Register to vote to defend hard-won freedom’

Leroy Dzenga, Harare Bureau
Government has streamlined requirements for issuance of national civic documents to make it easier for those who have been facing challenges, while people have to register to vote to defend the country’s hard-won freedom and heritage, President Mnangagwa has said.

Addressing party members in Kwekwe who had gathered for the ruling party’s National Cell Day, the President said there was no longer need to pay for the vital documents.

“In the past, when one went to apply for these documents, they were asked for their exact dates of birth.

And when they failed to give the exact dates they were asked to bring along a close relative to vouch for them.

We then realised this was problematic and changed the rules.

Now we have put in place new regulations that have removed all of those requirements.

We also said there is no longer need to pay for that document.

You now get it for free; everything is now free . . .

So we have streamlined everything.

Those who do not have IDs and birth certificates should seek assistance from their local leadership and get the documents for free.”

President Mnangagwa, who is under Dambudzo Cell 1, said it was important for party members to register to vote and defend gains of the liberation struggle.

“The freedom we enjoy today was brought by men and women who sacrificed to go to war.

People would get maimed and injured but others kept volunteering.

For 15 years, we battled hard until we secured victory and our Independence.

“For us to preserve our Independence, after every five years we go for elections to get a new mandate to rule from the people.

For us to do so, there is voting which takes place.

Go and register to vote, the process is easy, war was the harder part and that is already behind us.”

Registering for next year’s elections, the President said, can still continue even though delimitation of constituency boundaries would be done using data from those who had registered by May 31 this year.

“After every 10 years, our constituency boundaries are redrawn through delimitation.

So, the process is ongoing and the data being used is from voters who were registered by May 31 this year.

However, this does not mean registering to vote in the 2023 election has closed.

They can still register to vote.”
Zanu-PF is the party that broke Zimbabwe free from the bondage of colonialism, he added.

Speaking at the same meeting, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa said youths should shun drugs.

“We should shun drugs; drugs are now being used by men, women, the young and the old, and that is concerning.

Drugs affect productivity and have the potential to ruin futures. We don’t want drugs.”

She called on party members to remain peaceful and united.

She also warned against the dangers of Covid-19, emphasising the importance of continued observance of preventative protocols and adherence to good hygiene.

“The vaccination programme is still ongoing, if you are double vaccinated, you should consider getting the booster shot, which is being offered at our health facilities,” said the First Lady.

She also spoke against domestic violence while encouraging hard work.

Yesterday’s meeting, which was the highlight of similar gatherings held by Zanu-PF countrywide, was convened to audit membership and galvanise its mobilisation drive.

Zanu-PF considers its cell structures as critically important organs especially as the ruling party readies its machinery for the 2023 elections.

“The cell is the soul of the party; this is where everything begins.

The cell is the most important organ of the party.

So today, wherever there is Zanu-PF, cells are congregating,” President Mnangagwa said.

The party cells usually comprise 50 members but they are allowed more members.

When Dambudzo Cell 1 chairperson Cde Augustine Gijima called out the register, the President was listed on number 22, while the First Lady was on number 23, with Emmerson Mnangagwa Jnr on number 59.

Cde Gijima thanked President Mnangagwa for driving development in their constituency, singling out Indarama Mine project. Development of the mine, he said, was set to create 4 000 jobs.