Editorial Comment: Zanu-PF strong as ever

HARARE was brought to a standstill on Wednesday as multitudes of Zanu-PF supporters took part in the Million-Man March organised by the revolutionary party’s Youth League.

The demonstrators, who marched from their respective assembly points to the Robert Mugabe Square, with supporters from Masvingo and Masholand East provinces coming from Rufaro Stadium, Manicaland from Raylton Sports Club, Mashonaland West from Kensington Shopping Centre, Mashonaland Central from the South African Embassy, while Midlands and Matabeleland provinces marched from the National Sports Stadium, were showing their solidarity towards the iconic statesmanship of President Robert Mugabe.

The event went platinum as no other gathering has surpassed its magnitude in terms of numbers.

Although prophets of doom had foreseen fiasco, the march turned into one of the country’s biggest event for years to come in both organisation and discipline.

All wings of Zanu-PF – Main, Women’s League and the Youth League as well as affiliates – came together as one family.

It was a full house and the venue was going to be packed to the rafters had it not been for transport problems that resulted in some supporters failing to attend the demonstration.

This gathering will definitely turn the opposition movements green with envy for the unity that headlined the event clearly show that the ruling party will come out of this a stronger front.

President Mugabe put the icing on the cake by preaching the gospel of unity which is in line with the thrust of the Africa Unity Day.

He urged the Zanu-PF supporters to shun in-fighting which he said had never been a tradition within the party since the days of the armed struggle.

In his own words, the President labeled the march “historic” and thanked the youths for showing faith in him as well as dedication towards uniting the party.

“The youths have shown that if you are dedicated to Zanu-PF’s ideals you will unite the party like they have done. This is the Youth League we need which unites the party and strengthens it. Handina kana remuromo…It’s a glorious day for the party, a glorious day for us all, let’s thank the youths for it,” he said.

The youths should take heed of what President Mugabe said, especially on discipline and avoid being divided by errant party members who want to champion selfish agendas on factional lines.

The message from the President was very clear: No one was bigger than the party.

Said President Mugabe: “It’s not our tradition in the party to fight for positions or visit traditional healers to grab posts…pavaiswa ndipapo kwete kuda kupinga vamwe ndare, hakuna ndare harisi bhora, zvido zvevanhu.”

The deputy secretary for youth affairs, Cde Kudzai Chipanga made an excellent delivery of the youths’ concerns, keeping focused on real issues affecting the youths. The concerns were collected from the country’s 10 provinces during a nationwide tour in preparation for the Million-Man March.

Sticking issues he raised included economic empowerment, land resettlement, residential stands, high levels of corruption, leakages along the country’s borders due to smuggling and the problem of greedy Ministers who are lining their pockets instead of serving the people.

The youths are the future of the party and Zanu-PF can ignore their grievances at own peril.

True to this, President Mugabe quickly responded to their demands and told the gathering that they will be addressed using proper party structures. The revolutionary party must congratulate itself for a job well done for the Million-Man March revealed to the world that it means business and that the party cannot be wished away.

It is as strong as ever!