ZIMBABWE AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION-
PATRIOTIC FRONT (ZANU PF)
ADDRESS
BY
THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST SECRETARY, CDE E. D. MNANGAGWA
TO
THE ZANU PF CENTRAL COMMITTEE
HARARE 23 OCTOBER 2024
Pamberi neZANU PF.
Pamberi nekubatana.
Pamberi nebudiriro.
Pamberi negwara reMusangano.
Pasi neMhandu.
Phambili leZANU PF.
Phambili loku bambana.
Phambili lempu-me-le-lo.
Phansi laba-thengisi.
Vice President and Second
Gen. (Rtd) Dr. C. G. D. N. Chiwenga;
Secretary,
Vice President and Second
Col. (Rtd) Cde. K. C. D. Mohadi;
Secretary,
National Chairman and Minister
Cde. O. C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri; of Defence,
First Lady, Amai A. Mnangagwa;
Secretary General, Cde Dr. O. M. Mpofu;
Members of the Elders Council;
Members of the Central Committee;
Members of the Politburo; and
Party Officials.
Comrades; Since our last meeting, we lost a number of gallant sons and daughters of the soil with the overall provincial total, of the deceased, read out by the Secretary General of the Party. These include a stalwart of our war of liberation, the late National Hero, Cde Tshinga Judge Dube. In their honour, memory, and remembrance, I invite the Central Committee to observe a minute of silence. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
I thank you.
Comrades;
I am pleased to welcome you all to this Central Committee Meeting convened to precede the 21st
National People’s Conference, being held in Bulawayo, under the theme “Industrialise and Modernise Towards the Attainment of Vision 2030.”
This Conference is defining as it marks the beginning of the third decade of convening such meetings. This is testament that ZANU PF is a constitutionally entrenched revolutionary mass-Party, with a long, rich history and proud liberation war heritage. Since establishment, the Party has always championed and promoted constructive debate as well as internal democracy.
We have always rejected any practices and conduct that are inconsistent with our laws and regulations outlined in the Party Constitution. Members, here gathered, the current crop of senior leaders have the duty to carry on with that rich, deep-rooted tradition, in the footsteps of luminaries and founding fathers of our great Party.
To this end, the Party Constitution, as amended in 2022, stipulates in Article 6, Sections 33 to 35, that there shall be a National People’s Conference, and accordingly states its Composition, Powers and Functions.
Guided by the spirit and letter of this legal beacon, our collective expectation of the Conference must see our Party emerge rejuvenated, motivated, stronger, more united and focused on realising the necessary results to improve our quality of life. ZANU PF inzou isingamire kana ikanzwa kuwukura. Tino ramba tichingofamba, tichingofamba, tichingofamba. We remain engrossed on wholeheartedly serving the people of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe.
As architects and defenders of the revolution, we continue to carry the weighty obligation to provide leadership towards advancing the founding provisions of our constitution, ideology, principles, and values. Every leader of the Party, including ordinary members, must contribute and stand by the side of the Party. Our rhetoric and actions as cadres must be reflective of this reality, both during the day and at night, in public and in private.
Comrades;
The curtain comes down this week on the last reporting year. I applaud the Central Committee for diligently superintending over the implementation of various Party resolutions, policies, programmes and decisions.
Tinokutendayi sehutungamiri weMusangano.
Siyalibonga njenga-ba-kho-khe-li bomhlangano.
Today, the Central Committee will receive comprehensive reports on our readiness to host a successful Conference. The Conference Agenda and Programme, which dovetails with the Party’s constitutional requirements, will also be presented.
The supremacy of the Party over Government is a standing principle which compels the Party to supervise and oversee functions of the Central Government. Policies, directives, programmes and projects enunciated by the upcoming Conference must, therefore, find place in Government plans and the requisite resources allocated.
Our meetings are not talk-shows. Hence, members are urged to be mindful of the need to conclude outstanding business, including pertinent resolutions of the 20th
National People’s Conference and 7th National People’s Congress.
Comrades;
Today’s Meeting will receive an update report on activities of the Commissariat Department and the state of Party structures. The progress made on the restructuring exercise is pleasing in some provinces, while others need to do more to increase the pace of concluding the exercise.
ZANU PF members must always be educated on the importance of genuine and correct Party structures, starting at the lowest level, the Cells and Villages, moving up to Branches and Districts.
If each level is correctly constituted, then the Party has a sustainable base and solid foundation. There is need to always guard against infiltration and waywardness within Party structures. We must decisively deal with abuses and not abandon our structures. Only hidden agendas create such abuses. The solution to challenges, for example within DCCs, is not to destroy the structure, but correct the anomalies, through the strict adherence to the Party Constitution, rules and procedures.
As a critical decision-making body of our colossal mass Party, ZANU PF, it is incumbent upon us, the Central Committee to ensure that all members continue to toe the correct line of our Party.
The 21st National People’s Conference should serve to remind all Party structures from the cell/village upwards, of the unstoppable nature as well as the organisational and leadership capabilities of our revolutionary mass Party, ZANU PF.
Comrades;
At this critical stage of our national development, the importance of innovation, research, science and technology in scaling up socio-economic transformation, cannot be overemphasised.
The Conference theme “Industrialise and Modernise Towards the Attainment of Vision 2030,” is a call to leap-frog traditional development stages. All sectors are challenged, therefore, to think outside the box and adopt these modern tools so that we continue to be relevant, both now and in the future. Leveraging on our HeritageBased Education 5.0 framework, we have laid the groundwork for accelerated industrialisation and modernisation driven by our key national resources, innovation, research and local solutions.
I, urge, the Party to be abreast with developments in the innovation and research space, especially in institutions of higher learning. I am aware, however, that no one has a monopoly of knowledge and innovation. As such, the Party is encouraged to transmit to the grassroots, the growing importance of our ongoing industrialisation and modernisation agenda. Our structures should be participants and not mere observers of this ongoing revolution.
As we modernise and industrialise, however, let us never lose sight of our culture and identity as Zimbabweans. This is the core of who we are. Our people should learn from other nations but, our distinct identity must remain intact.
Comrades;
I commend the growing public and private sector collaboration in advancing our quest to realise Vision 2030 through harnessing innovation, science and technology development.
True to our national development philosophy, Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhulekelwe ngabanikazi balo, I was pleased to witness the growing ingenuity and resourcefulness of our talented citizenry at the recently held Presidential Innovation Fair and Awards ceremony as well as the Research Council of Zimbabwe Symposium. The young people of our country, from primary education right up to tertiary level, are making great strides in embracing our clarion call, as outlined in the Heritage Based Education 5.0 Model.
ZANU PF will continue to facilitate the deployment of local solutions and products to propel the growth of all sectors of our economy.
Comrades;
On Friday, 25th October, we will join the rest of the region in commemorating the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day. The Central Committee is applauded for supporting provinces in carrying out anti-sanctions activities. We are unambiguous in our calls that sanctions must go.
Meanwhile, the rainy season is now upon us. Last week,
Government launched the 2024/2025
Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, which kick-starts the distribution of inputs for the forthcoming summer cropping season in earnest. Communities are called upon to adequately prepare for the season as guided by our experts.
The Central Committee Report has been distributed and gives key highlights of our performance over the past year. It is pleasing that all Party Departments put up a fair performance, with increased operational efficiency through the re-organisation of departments, including the addition of new ones, as well as staff rationalisation. The comprehensive departmental reports will form part of the primary documents to the respective Sector Committee discussions during Conference. We must consider the Report with the view of an endorsement for subsequent adoption at Conference.
Finally, let us strengthen our resolve to face head-on, the task before us of leading our own country; through our own wisdom and culture; using our own resources and always having faith to develop, industrialise and modernise our country, ourselves. Through the implementation of people-centred policies and unity of purpose, we shall continue to lift many out of poverty into prosperity.
With these remarks I wish us fruitful deliberations.
Let us now turn to our Agenda.
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