POLITICAL parties are, by nature private clubs, and though we would have counselled a postponement of the Zanu-PF provincial elections till the party ironed out the serious logistical challenges that bedevilled prior elections held in Manicaland, the Midlands and Mashonaland Central provinces; the party leadership thought otherwise and proceeded with elections in the remaining seven provinces.
While a number of irregularities were cited leaving some party members disgruntled, we urge all to focus on the bigger picture which is defending the July 31 vote going into Election 2018, and that vote can only be defended through delivery on campaign promises as synthesised in the economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.
The leaders who emerged from the provincial polls held countrywide should realise they lead entire provinces not only those who supported their candidature.
It is, however, a good thing that the divisive elections are over as that frees the ruling party from election mode to focus on the huge mandate= it was given by the people on July 31.
We, however, hope the party addresses the concerns of aggrieved candidates and their supporters so that they know they have provincial leaders rooted in the grassroots.
We take this opportunity to remind Zanu-PF that while it revels in a resounding mandate, that mandate is a greater call for delivery because many a detractor, not least the vanquished MDC formations, would like to capitalise on perceived failures which is why the spirit of oneness that delivered the thunderous electoral performance that sent shock waves in the White House and Whitehall should manifest so that Zim
Asset can bring meaningful change to the livelihoods of all Zimbabweans.
The talk of factions and factionalism that was being fanned by some sections of the media amid subtle encouragement from some senior Zanu-PF leaders should be dropped like a plague.
Team Zanu-PF won on July 31, that mandate would not have come on the back of retrogressive divisions as the lessons of March 2008 proved.
Let’s not forget that the sections of the media that have been touting talk of succession, pontificating about the so-called Mujuru and Mnangagwa factions were only yesterday rooting for the demise of Zanu-PF and with it the revolution which it embodies.
This is why any self-respecting Zanu-PF cadre should never believe that these media mean well when they push the factions agenda.
We have said it before, and we say it again, we hold no brief for any faction in Zanu-PF. We uphold the mandate given to the party’s First Secretary and President, Cde R G Mugabe, who was endorsed on the scale of the party’s 1980 victory. More so it is up to the party and its grassroots to ensure that, when the time comes, the baton goes to someone equally deserving, and that is not our call. And as long as that person, when he/she emerges, espouses the same values for which tens of thousands of Zimbabweans perished since the First
Chimurenga/Umvukela of 1896/7, they get our support.
We thus do not take kindly to anyone, friend or foe, who ascribes to us factional politics which we do not believe in.
That aside, we urge the Zanu-PF leadership to close ranks and focus on the mandate they were given by the people, namely delivering on their campaign promises to mitigate the effects of the illegal sanctions regime that curtailed and decimated livelihoods over the past 13 years.
The bigger picture is Team Zanu-PF, for the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. A house divided against itself will not stand, and we hope Zanu-PF realises this is why there has been furious agenda setting on factions instead of Team Zanu-PF in some sections of the media sworn to regime change politics.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Turkeys will never vote for Christmas, put simply, detractors will never encourage internal cohesion.