The Sunday News
VICE-PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has said Zanu-PF was ready to reclaim seats that have been lost to the opposition party for the past 15 years in Bulawayo in next week’s by-election.
VP Mnangagwa said this while addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at White City Stadium during a star rally in Bulawayo yesterday.
“I am here to support five of our comrades who will represent you in five constituencies in Bulawayo in next week’s by-elections. These posts became vacant after kumwawuka (tearing apart) kwe Movement for Democratic Change,” he said.
VP Mnangagwa said the MDC-T had been present in Zimbabwean elections from the time it was formed but has been severally disbanded over the years.
“MDC yakatanga in 1999 and it was united, ndokuti mwawu imwe ikatungamirwa naMutambara (Aurthur), ndokuti mwawu imwe ikatungamirwa naProfessor Welshman Ncube, ndokuti mwawu ikatungamirwa naJob Sikhala, ndokuti mwawu ikatungamirwa na Biti, last week imwe yakati mwawu ikatungamirwa na Mangoma. Asi Zanu-PF irikungofamba, ichingotonga,” he said. (MDC was formed in 1999 and it was united, then it split to be led by Mutambara, then split again the other faction was then led by Professor Welshman Ncube, split yet again with Sikhala as leader, another split saw Biti emerging as leader then last week it split again with the latest faction led by Mangoma. However, as Zanu-PF we are still going strong, still ruling).
He said those aligned to such disastrous parties like the MDC formations must consider whether they want to belong to a party that is always breaking away to form new parties or align themselves with a party that is united like Zanu-PF.
The VP said for the past 15 years Zanu-PF has been losing seats to MDC-T but it was now time for the revolutionary party to reclaim the city instead of leaving the people to suffer in the hands of the opposition.
“I have come here to support our candidates that you elected; the leadership has assured me that this time around Zanu-PF will win the elections. It is, however, you the people that have the power to make them win by voting for them,” he said.
VP Mnangagwa reminded the people that during the liberation struggle many lives were lost in a bid to liberate the country and that it was essential to maintain Zanu-PF rule in the country as it was the only party with the needs of the people at heart.
He said he was impressed with the turnout at the rally.
“Ndafara kuti mauya makawanda and you must go and vote in your numbers too. I am happy no one was forced to come here, you were not beaten to attend the rally,” said VP Mnangagwa.
He told the candidates that they had to listen to what the people who voted for them want and address their concerns.
“You candidates have chosen to be the servants of the people and they are now your masters. You are not superior than these people who have elected you. If ever you start showing signs of being arrogant they will let me know, I will parade you in front of everyone to see. Day and night they are your servants,” he said.
Zanu-PF’s candidates in the 10 June by-elections in Bulawayo are Cdes Joseph Tshuma, Tshinga Dube, Maidei Mpala, Godfrey Malaba and Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo.
VP Mnangagwa tore into the MDC formations saying they had no history to talk about.
“MDC does not have a history; it is only Zanu-PF that has history. You all know where we came from, where we are and where we are going. MDC just wants to see the President and Zanu-PF stepping down. We on the other hand want to promote unity and development for the people,” he said.
The VP sent the crowd into wild with cheers when he said: “Kukatonhora tinoramba tiri muZanu PF, kukapisa, tinoramba tiri muZanu PF, kukaita nzara kana maguta tinoramba tirimo,ukafuta kana kuwonda tinoramba tirimo muZanu Pf, ukaroorwa kana kuroora taramba tirimo, ukaramba kana kurambwa tinoramba tiri mu Zanu PF. Zanu PF is the only party for the people and we will stand by it.” (When it’s cold, we remain in Zanu-PF, if it gets hot, we remain in Zanu-PF, in times of hunger or plenty we remain in there, if you grow fat or thin we remain in Zanu-PF, if you are married or marry, we remain in there, if you divorce or a divorced we remain in Zanu-PF).
He said the MDC was bent on distributing Zimbabwe’s heritage to white imperialists at the expense of the people who deserve it and they were not going to let that happen.
“In Zimbabwe we attained political independence in 1980, we then followed by getting united as one then we decided to reclaim our land that had been stolen and distribute it to the people,” he said.
The VP said they were still going to reposess farms that were not claimed in this region saying some were going to be exceptions.
“We still have farms in this region that have not been repossessed from the white farmers, we are going to take them but some we will not. If you tell us the reasons we will leave them as long as you are benefiting, we will not touch them,” he said.
He further said top leadership in the province that had multiple farms would have to choose one and some farms would be reduced to the stipulated size.
