The Sunday News
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
ZANU-PF has started mobilising people to join the ruling party while also encouraging members to register as voters in preparation for the 2023 harmonised elections.
After successfully conducting District Coordinating Committee elections last year and orienting the new office bearers recently the party has set the ball rolling in preparing for the next elections where a target is set to get 5 million voters.
The party held an inter-district meeting for the Hwange DCC on Friday before a Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting addressed by Matabeleland South Politburo member Cde Richard Ndlovu in Lupane yesterday. Speaking at the occasion, Cde Ndlovu encouraged party leaders to work hard to establish grassroots structures and to make sure members are registered as voters.
“The problem is that people do not register to vote. Let’s welcome people to the party and accommodate everyone even those from the opposition are welcome. Let’s mobilise, we will be back here in Matabeleland North on 10 May to visit every district to check progress,” said Cde Ndlovu.
He expressed concern about people who are sponsored by some non-governmental organisations to cause divisions and factionalism. Cde Ndlovu urged citizens no to bottle up but open up on the challenges they face in their communities.
Senator Tambudzani Mohadi of Beitbridge who was representing the Women’s League said the party can only win elections by setting up grassroots structures and mobilising néw members. Cde Shardreck Mhlaba who was representing war veterans called for unity of purpose among party members. In a meeting at Edmund Davis Hall in Hwange, party members expressed concern about lack of development in the district despite the vast natural resources available. DCC chairman Cde Mathew Muleya said the district has set the ball rolling with a mobilisation campaign on the way.
“There are a number of concerns which were raised by members that we have natural resources such as coal, wildlife and conservation but we are the poorest district. As a new DCC we are tired of being poor and we have to use the available resources to develop infrastructure especially water and clinics hence people are saying we want to benefit,” said Cde Muleya.
The party’s provincial chairman Cde Richard Moyo encouraged party members to be united, respect each other and work together. He challenged party members to be active in mobilising members to join the party.
“The party is always losing in Hwange so we want people to start working together and establish grassroot structures. A house is built from a foundation and now that they are in office, they should start penetrating communities to mobilise new members towards meeting 5 million votes target for the President in 2023,” said Cde Moyo.
He acknowledged that the district hasn’t benefitted from locally available resources.
“Hwange now has about 11 companies mining and producing coal products and its the duty of the DCC to make sure youths benefit. People are concerned about infrastructure especially roads that have been damaged and as Minister of State I will be meeting all the companies soon, “ he said.
Meanwhile, the Hwange DCC moved a motion recommending the party’s provincial leadership to institute investigating and disciplinary action against Lwendulu branch chair Cde Reeds Dube and Dinde’s Nekatambe branch chair Cde Never Tshuma on allegations of namedropping and putting the name of the party in disrepute.
This was after the duo allegedly mobilised Dinde Community to revolt against a Chinese investor, Beifah Investment which was given special grant to prospect for coal in the area. Cde Tshuma allegedly mobilised villagers and dismantled a tent pitched on site while threatening to burn it.
Cde Dube reportedly claimed he had been sent by a senior party member to stop the project. Cde Dube who is also under police investigation for allegedly brutally assaulting his wife Mrs Alexia Dube early this week in a domestic dispute, was the party’s candidate for Hwange Central Constituency in the last harmonised elections.
His wife, whose pictures went viral on social media after the abuse, has since fled from her matrimonial home in Number 2 and sought refuge at her relative house in Empumalanga.-@ncubeleon
