The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
POLITICAL leaders imposing their cronies in positions of local leadership in order to fortify their own political foothold have no place in the New Dispensation, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Nokuthula Matsikenyere, has said.
Hon Matsikenyere, who is also Zanu PF provincial Women’s League deputy chairperson said this while addressing the first ever Children of Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association (CZLWVA) conference at Outward Bound Resort in Chimanimani last week on Friday.
As part of its resolutions, the conference endorsed President Mnangagwa’s candidature in the 2023 harmonised elections.
Hon Matsikenyere said time was up for individuals bent on lining up their own pockets through corrupt means.
“It is high time that people understand the true meaning of leadership. Being a leader does not mean serving your own interests. Even the Bible notes that the one who serves everyone, and perceived to be the least important is the leader among you.
“Even when food is being dished out, those in positions of leadership should be the last to eat. We now want leaders who serve the people, and not milk the same people you purport to lead.
“We no longer tolerate leaders who destabilise leadership structures by imposing their own cronies in order for them to strengthen their authority at a higher level. That is not part of the ethos of the New Dispensation as espoused by President Mnangagwa,” said Hon Matsikenyere.
CZLWVA national chairman, Cde Raymond Chiwara said: “We are here for our first national conference which also gave us the opportunity to announce our preferred candidate for the 2023 harmonised elections.
“We have agreed with all our members across the country that there is no better candidate for the 2023 election than President Mnangagwa.
‘‘He has convinced us that he is the only one who can solve our challenges as children of war veterans. Therefore, we are giving this message to the leadership here represented by Cde Matsikenyere and Cde Mike Madiro (Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairman),” said Chiwara.
The theme of the conference was: “Defending the gains of the Second Republic whilst mobilising five million votes for ED 2023.”
Cde Madiro commended CZLWVA for endorsing President Mnangagwa’s candidature.
“This is something that makes us happy as leaders when young people come together to honour and respect their leaders in the manner that CZLWVA has done. The work at hand is to ensure that we go out with the word, and mobilise votes for President Mnangagwa.
“This should not be a difficult task at all given the excellent work President Mnangagwa is doing since assuming office. He deserves to be rewarded with another term in office so that he carries on with the developmental work he is doing across the country,” said Cde Madiro.
CZLWVA is carrying out empowerment programmes for its membership in different sectors of the economy that include farming and mining.
