The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
MANICALAND has been singled out as the province that improved the most in terms of voter turn-out and support for the ruling Zanu PF in the last harmonised elections.
Zanu PF treasurer general, Cde Patrick Chinamasa said the province needs to continue growing its party support base and avoid sitting on its laurels.
Cde Chinamasa was addressing delegates at a Zanu PF Manicaland Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting held in Mutare on Sunday as part of preparations for the National People’s Conference to be held in Gweru this monthend.
The party made a number of resolutions emphasising on economic growth and stability, among others, to be tabled at the national conference.
Cde Chinamasa said at national level, Mashonaland Central was the pacesetter in terms of voter performance, followed by Mashonaland East and Masvingo Provinces.
“When we did our analysis, it was discovered that Manicaland was the province that improved the most, and we should continue on that good track and avoid sitting on our laurels. We are proud that our President won in Manicaland, and the party garnered the majority of Parliamentary seats,” he said.
The ruling party won 21 out 26 seats in Manicaland, with Cde Chinamasa bemoaning internal mudslinging for losses in Chipinge South and Makoni Central.
“We should have won these two constituencies. Our loss has nothing to do with anything else, but some among us. There are some things that happened in Chipinge South which we need to address as we move on. The same applies to Makoni Central,” he said.
Cde Chinamasa also applauded the party for winning the recently held Makoni Rural District Council Ward 33 run-off election, but bemoaned the violence that was reported after the elections.
“There was violence against Zanu PF members, and we would like to implore the police to arrest all the perpetrators. We do not condone political violence. The law should take its course,” he said.
CCC MP for Makoni Central, Patrick Sagandira; Rusape Town Council Ward 1 councillor, Teddy Chipere, Adam Tumbewe (33), Mollen Chihota (29) and Moses Muswe (31) were arrested and remanded in custody for the violence that erupted after Zanu PF’s Cde Maxwell Japan won the run-off election.
Turning to the National People’s Conference, Cde Chinamasa said the number of delegates attending this year’s conference will be reduced to allow serious debates to take place.
“I want to make this very clear, lest some of you begin to question why you are being left behind. If there are too many delegates, it becomes a rally, and nothing meaningful will come out of it. Huge numbers will dilute serious discussions and debates that should take place. Unlike in the past, this time we will have about 3 000 delegates,” he said.
Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairman, Cde Tawanda Mukodza said they are happy with the preparations for the conference.
He said the fundraising will be spearheaded by a team led by the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Honourable Misheck Mugadza.
“We have instituted committees and we have consolidated resolutions from the people for onward submission at the national conference. Mobilisation of resources is now at an advanced stage and some of them are already there,” he said.
