Monday, December 10, 2012

ZANU-PF Conference Confirms President Mugabe's Candidacy for Zimbabwe Elections

Zanu-pf conference a resounding success

Monday, 10 December 2012 00:00
Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald

The just ended 13TH Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference was a resounding success and set the tone for the party’s victory in next year’s harmonised elections, analysts and delegates to the
conference have said.

The conference was held at the recently constructed Gweru Conference and Exhibition Centre located at the 10km peg along the Gweru-Mvuma highway.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo yesterday said the party was pleased with the outcome of the event.

“To us the conference was very successful with the President setting the tone for the way forward as we approach the elections.

“He emphasised on the need for unity within the party so that we win the elections and that the indigenisation programme should be consolidated as Zimbabweans should benefit more from their resources.

“The other important thing was that the constitution making exercise should be finalised, failure of which we resort to the current constitution,” he said.

The party resolved that the new constitution should be ready before Christmas.

Cde Gumbo said Zanu-PF had clarified its position on various issues, positioning itself well to win the elections.

“We were very clear on issues that affect the ordinary Zimbabwean and as we go towards the elections the electorate knows what to expect from a Zanu-PF Government unlike the other foreign sponsored parties that do not have defined programmes and policies to offer to Zimbabweans,” Cde Gumbo said.

University of Zimbabwe lecturer and analyst Dr Charity Manyeruke said President Mugabe had tackled important issues in his speech that should inspire the party ahead of harmonised elections.

“The conference was a success in my view and afforded the party an opportunity to discuss important issues ahead of the elections.

“In his speech President Mugabe touched on a number of issues that I think should ensure the party comes out victorious in next year’s elections.

“He talked of the need for the party to unite because it is important that the party be united and avoid a repeat of what happened in the previous elections where disunity nearly cost the party,” she said.

Dr Manyeruke also said the issue of corruption was also an important point that the President emphasised on.

“It was also important that the President came out strongly against corruption because it is threatening the fabric of the society. The fact that the President did not mince his words and threatened to fire anyone involved in corrupt activities inspires confidence ahead of the elections,” Dr Manyeruke said.

The President spoke about corruption by Government ministers, police officers and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials among others.

Dr Manyeruke said some of the important issues that were addressed at the conference include empowerment of women, regularising the operations of small-scale miners and capacitating farmers.

Another analyst Mr Goodwine Mureriwa echoed similar sentiments saying the need for unity and zero tolerance to imposition of candidates were also important.

“The conference was clear that unity, especially at this juncture, was important and the fact that imposition of candidates was rejected creates an enabling environment for Zanu-PF to win the next elections convincingly.

“The other issue that is important was that President Mugabe and the conference as a whole talked of the need to consolidate the indigenisation programme which will undoubtedly form the basis of the campaign in the next elections.

“Zanu-PF is very clear that Zimbabweans should be masters of their own destiny and it was important that the conference re-affirmed that position,” Mr Mureriwa said.

Uzumba House of Assembly legislator Cde Simbaneuta Mudarikwa said the conference invigorated the party and was certain that Zanu-PF would win next year’s elections.

“We came out with renewed vigour and now want to go to the next elections and we are very positive that we will win, there is nothing to stop us.

“There was a clear unity of purpose that came out after the conference and that is what we need to win the elections,” Cde Mudarikwa said.pleased with the outcome of the event.

“To us the conference was very successful with the President setting the tone for the way forward as we approach the elections.

“He emphasised on the need for unity within the party so that we win the elections and that the indigenisation programme should be consolidated as Zimbabweans should benefit more from their resources.

“The other important thing was that the constitution making exercise should be finalised, failure of which we resort to the current constitution,” he said.

The party resolved that the new constitution should be ready before Christmas.

Cde Gumbo said Zanu-PF had clarified its position on various issues, positioning itself well to win the elections.

“We were very clear on issues that affect the ordinary Zimbabwean and as we go towards the elections the electorate knows what to expect from a Zanu-PF Government unlike the other foreign sponsored parties that do not have defined programmes and policies to offer to Zimbabweans,” Cde Gumbo said.

University of Zimbabwe lecturer and analyst Dr Charity Manyeruke said President Mugabe had tackled important issues in his speech that should inspire the party ahead of harmonised elections.

“The conference was a success in my view and afforded the party an opportunity to discuss important issues ahead of the elections.

“In his speech President Mugabe touched on a number of issues that I think should ensure the party comes out victorious in next year’s elections.

“He talked of the need for the party to unite because it is important that the party be united and avoid a repeat of what happened in the previous elections where disunity nearly cost the party,” she said.

Dr Manyeruke also said the issue of corruption was also an important point that the President emphasised on.

“It was also important that the President came out strongly against corruption because it is threatening the fabric of the society. The fact that the President did not mince his words and threatened to fire anyone involved in corrupt activities inspires confidence ahead of the elections,” Dr Manyeruke said.

The President spoke about corruption by Government ministers, police officers and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials among others.

Dr Manyeruke said some of the important issues that were addressed at the conference include empowerment of women, regularising the operations of small-scale miners and capacitating farmers.

Another analyst Mr Goodwine Mureriwa echoed similar sentiments saying the need for unity and zero tolerance to imposition of candidates were also important.

“The conference was clear that unity, especially at this juncture, was important and the fact that imposition of candidates was rejected creates an enabling environment for Zanu-PF to win the next elections convincingly.

“The other issue that is important was that President Mugabe and the conference as a whole talked of the need to consolidate the indigenisation programme which will undoubtedly form the basis of the campaign in the next elections.

“Zanu-PF is very clear that Zimbabweans should be masters of their own destiny and it was important that the conference re-affirmed that position,” Mr Mureriwa said.

Uzumba House of Assembly legislator Cde Simbaneuta Mudarikwa said the conference invigorated the party and was certain that Zanu-PF would win next year’s elections.

“We came out with renewed vigour and now want to go to the next elections and we are very positive that we will win, there is nothing to stop us.

“There was a clear unity of purpose that came out after the conference and that is what we need to win the elections,” Cde Mudarikwa said.


Conference confirms President’s candidature

Monday, 10 December 2012 00:00
Hebert Zharare Political Editor
Zimbabwe Herald

THE just-ended Zanu-PF 13th Annual National People’s Conference confirmed President Mugabe as the party’s sole candidate for the forthcoming harmonised elections and resolved to adopt a scoring strategy, Bhora Mugedhi/Ibhola Egedhini, for the forthcoming elections to ensure resounding victory.

This was adopted at the end of the conference held in Gweru at the newly-built 5 000-seater conference and exhibition centre.

The conference confirmed the party’s President and First Secretary Cde R G Mugabe, who was elected at the last congress, to be the party’s presidential candidate in harmonised elections slated for next year.

It directed all structures of the party to earnestly and immediately prepare for resounding victory in the forthcoming elections by adopting a strategy to score, Bhora Mugedhi/Ibhola Egedhini.

Some members adopted “bhora musango” during the last harmonised elections, which saw members voting for the opposition or independent candidates resulted in the loss of a number of constituencies to the opposition.

The party says it wants to conduct primary elections in a free and fair manner and to stop the imposition of candidates.

“Exhorts every member of the party to be guided, instructed and bound by the vision, direction, ideals, values and the imperative for unity paying due regard to the enduring principle that we are our own liberators under the banner; Iwe neni tinebasa/Wena lami silom’sebenzi,” reads the resolutions.

The party resolved to make provisions for the adequate funding of all its programmes, including the impending primary elections and harmonised elections.

Party members were also discouraged from vote-buying.

On the economic front, the party resolved that all the sectors of the economy must fully comply with the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.

It resolved that South African mining giant De Beers be investigated for illegal mining operations carried out in Marange under the guise of exploration and that the investigation should establish the quantity of the diamond-bearing soil scooped out of the area and transported to South Africa as well as determining the actual value of the diamonds thus illegally smuggled out of the country.

The party implored the Government to spearhead the adoption of currencies of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries and other emerging economies as legal tender in Zimbabwe alongside the US dollar.

Read the resolutions in part “To instruct Government to work out modalities for the reintroduction of domestic currency alongside the multi-currency system in order to address the current liquidity crisis and to enable our people to carry out their transactions.

“Encourages foreign direct investment to complement domestic investment and calls upon Government to ensure that foreign investors do not fund their investments through local borrowings.”

On the political front, the party called for the unconditional lifting of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe to facilitate the restoration and access to sound social services infrastructure.

The party also argued that Government, through the responsible ministry and Government departments, attend to the construction and rehabilitation of roads in both rural and urban areas.

“To direct the party to urgently take remedial measures to redress the rapid decline in the quality of the education system alongside the deterioration of national sport and recreational facilities.”

The conference noted the re-election of President Barack Obama and called upon him to repeal the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act and unconditionally lift the illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe.

The party said it wanted to spearhead and take the leading role in ensuring greater representation of women in all decision-making institutions so as to attain the 50/50 ratio set by Sadc and AU in its protocols.

“That the party calls on all its members to be involved in the campaign against gender based violence and commits to advocate for the deterrent punishments of perpetrators. Calls upon the party to implement deliberate policies to empower the rural women so as to reduce their chores.”

On constitution making process, the party deplored the delaying tactics employed by the MDC formations which have seen the process that was supposed to take 18 months lasting 44 months.

“Implores the GPA parties to conclude the constitution making process before Christmas this year, failing which the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces (President Mugabe) should in terms of the law issue the relevant Proclamation dissolving Parliament and fixing a date for the holding of the harmonised elections under the current Constitution.”


We are a different creature: President

Sunday, 09 December 2012 00:00
Munyaradzi Huni in Gweru

President Mugabe has castigated factionalism in Zanu-PF, saying it would be dangerous for the party to go for the 2013 harmonised elections with some party supporters grouping themselves as people belonging to Vice-President Mujuru while others say they belong to Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction.

The President, who is also Zanu-PF First Secretary, told delegates to the 13th National People’s Conference that leaders should be chosen by the people according to their performances, adding that the party’s main weapon during the 2013 elections should be its sound policies that the MDC formations cannot match.

In a move that showed that Zanu-PF is really geared for the coming elections, the 13th National People’s Conference took a resolution to make 2013 the Year of Electoral Victory amid deafening applause from the about 5 000 delegates.

President Mugabe said Zanu-PF will go for the 2013 elections “like a wounded lion” and urged leaders to unite people around the party and not themselves.

“The people will say themselves that so and so is a true leader. They will say if so and so says this, we will follow. Rest assured that when you have done that, you have done the right thing . . . you cannot have a section of people being called your people and others being called people against you. Factionalism. What kind of a leader can you be?

“Ava, as it is said, ndeva Emmerson Mnangagwa, ava ndeva Mai Mujuru. Vanhu vanotaura kudaro. Ndiwo maonero avanenge vachiita. (Some say certain groups belong to Cde Mnangagwa and Cde Mujuru. That is how people see it.) That is dangerous . . . a true leader regards all people as his or her people following the party.

“Ava vanhu vangu vekuprovince kwangu because you are a leader of the province. Hanzi ava ndeva VaMachaya, ava ndeva Kaukonde, ava vagonzi ndeva Midzi, ava ndeve kwaNyanhongo . . . people will hide certain things from you vachitya kuti havangakuudzi zvose nokuti iwe unonzi uri kutevera ava. Ndizvo zviri kuitika izvozvo. Avoid that. (Some provincial leaders might also be adjudged to have loyalists and refuse to partner with perceived opponents in the party).

“We didn’t build the party that way when we came up. Imi mazuva ano mava kucampaigner for positions, isu we never campaigned. We never, never campaigned for posts. We used just to go organising people, then come congress the people will say we want this one to be secretary for such and such . . . nguva yedu zvaitinyadza kuti uende uchiti ndinoda chiga ichi.

“I am just saying this because those ambitions are the cause of the split of the party. The people are then divided. Some supporting so and so against so and so. The people will make their choice in accordance with how you are operating, how they see you. So unity, unity, unity, unity, unity. Unite the people at all structures of the party. That way we will win,” said the President amid cheers.

He added: “Let us now go to the election with this strong weapon of our policies. That is our greatest weapon. We are different from the other creatures. Havazive kuti chavakamirira chii.”

President Mugabe said the party’s structures should be ready for elections adding that the party should mobilise for a resounding victory.

He urged Zimbabweans to maintain their ethos of cleanliness and expressed reservations that litter was now scattered in most cities in the country. The President went on to urge Zimbabweans to value their country and utilise its resources adding that there should be no outside interference.

He reiterated that Zanu-PF should use its policies as its weapon during the forthcoming elections and discouraged party members from engaging in violence during campaigns.

“What we can do, others cannot. What we are, others are not,” he said adding that the party should remain united.

“We do not have to take out spears or ukuthathi induku sitshaya abantu. No violence. Let’s have a peaceful election. Let our policies be the ndukus. We are now mature. We are now an enlightened people. . . we are a clean people because we are intellectually so. We cant compare with these others.

“These are people created by the British and so they are not themselves. They are like zvipoko zvirikutumwa kuzokanganisa hupenyu hwedu isu vanhu vemuno (They are like ghosts being deployed to disturb our lives here in Zimbabwe). . . so peace, peace, peace. Unity, unity, unity,” said the President.

He urged delegates to go and enjoy Christmas with their families. “Let us enjoy our Christmas with our families. Let us be in peaceful surroundings . . . have a Merry Christmas. Go in peace. Give my greetings and my message of peace to your families,” said the President.


Harness rain water for irrigation: President

Monday, 10 December 2012 00:00
Hebert Zharare Political Editor
Zimbabwe Herald

The country is starving due to inept and “foolish” leadership that is failing to come up with methods to harness rain water for irrigation, President Mugabe said at the weekend. The President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF, said this while officially closing the 13th Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference in Gweru.

The President said there were so many small rivers in between Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers whose water could be harnessed for irrigation purposes and ensure national food security.

“If you travel from Zambezi to Limpopo in between we have so many small rivers. Some feed into the Zambezi River and others into Save and Gwayi Rivers. These little rivers gather water this time. If it rains well they get full but when you get to about May or June already they will have spilled all the water into big rivers that will in turn take water to the sea.

“Irrigation, irrigation, irrigation. I have said it before and it appears I will be insulting the Almighty. If I were the Almighty I would say you foolish, foolish idiots I gave you all this water and you cannot keep it. What sought of people are you,” he said.

The President left the delegates in stitches when he said; “I am one of those foolish and idiotic persons because I am one of you also.”

The President said it was unfortunate that the country continued to have food deficit yet it had so many water bodies.

The country has the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development that is responsible for ensuring improved irrigation and modernisation of farming methods.
In his address the President said the US$20 million inputs support scheme he launched last month was expected to improve yields among poor farmers.

He distributed 60 tonnes of seed to the party’s 10 administrative provinces for distribution to some people in the villages.

The President said he was optimistic that farming inputs distributed would bolster farming preparations this season.

“Put your shoulders to the wheels. Let’s work hard. Zimbabweans are known for working hard. (Former South African President Nelson) Mandela’s worker is a Zimbabwean from Matabeleland South. He is a hard worker and does not steal. I am told he is always at work on time,” he said.

The President told people to castigate factionalism in Zanu-PF, saying the party should go to the polls next as a united force.

He said he did not want to hear that people were divided along the so called Vice-President Joice Mujuru Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa’s camps

President Mugabe said Zanu-PF would go for the 2013 elections “like a wounded lion” and urged the leadership to unite people around the party and not personalities.

President Mugabe said the party’s structures should be ready for elections, adding that the party should mobilise for a resounding victory.

He reiterated that Zanu-PF should use its policies as its weapon during the forthcoming elections and discouraged party members from engaging in violence during campaigns.


Corrupt ministers face axe: President

Friday, 07 December 2012 23:43
Takunda Maodza and Farirai Machivenyika in GWERU

PRESIDENT Mugabe says he will fire corrupt ministers if he is alerted to their underhand dealings and challenged Zimbabweans to expose such culprits.

President Mugabe, who is President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF, bemoaned rampant corruption in the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and warned that such behaviour should stop forthwith.

Officially opening the 13th Zanu-PF Annual National Peoples Conference here yesterday, the President said some ministers were demanding bribes from prospective investors using his name.

“Be disciplined. Do not try to deceive. There is a lot of indiscipline taking place.

“I was getting complaints even kunze from former South African president Thabo Mbeki who said some of our ANC people who come (to Zimbabwe) trying to do business, have been told, if you want to do business you should give us US$1 million. No, it is now US$5 million. We will take some of the money to President Mugabe, zvekundinyepera.”

Added the President: “That is cor­ruption. If I get information that minis­ter So-and-So is doing that, you go immediately.

“Unfortunately, vamwe vanenge vasingadi kutaura mazita.”

The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zim­babwe Defence Forces said because of fear, some people were not willing to name the culprits.

He said refusal to disclose the culprits worsened the situation.President Mugabe slammed rampant corruption in the ZRP and Zimra at border posts.

“Mapurisa, mapurisa, mapurisa. We want you to be straightforward people. You are representatives not only of Government, but of the people as a whole,” he said.

“If you want to be paid to do your job, then you are practising corruption and you cannot boast of having a well-disci­plined police.”

Police, said the President, were stop­ping motorists on the roads and demanding bribes.

“Kumisa vanhu mumigwagwa. Mota yako haina mabreaks haungaende mberi kana uchida, bhadhara US$200 woenda,” he said.

President Mugabe said in the majority of cases, the vehicles would not be defective as alleged by the traffic police officers.

He said in the case where the car was genuinely defective, it did not help to allow the vehicle to proceed.

President Mugabe castigated Zimra for engaging in corruption, especially at border posts where cross border traders, mainly women fending for their families, were made to give bribes.

He condemned indiscipline by some Zanu-PF officials who engaged in vote-buying, saying such behaviour was tantamount to corruption.

“So, we want discipline in the party. We do not accept that your membership of the party or your being elected to a post should depend on how much you pay to supporters,” said Presi­dent Mugabe.

“Kubhadhara mari kuti vanhu vakuvhotere, kwete.”

The President said while there was nothing wrong with those in positions of authority help­ing the disadvantaged, there was everything wrong when such authority was used to corrupt people.

He said Zanu-PF should be a clean party and reminded delegates that pioneers of the strug­gle for independence did not demand payment from anyone to liberate the country from the British colonial yoke.

“It was just commitment,” President Mugabe said.

President Mugabe castigated the MDC formations for their inferiority complex and belief that the country can not develop without the assistance of whites.

He said this sense of inferiority was the reason Zanu-PF differed with their partners in the inclusive Government on the indigenisation and empowerment programme.

“That is the point we do not agree with our partners in the inclusive Government, vamwe vedu vachiri mupolitics hameno kuti ndedze nguva ipi, kukudza murungu zvakadaro, kuti hatingakwanise kuita chinhu pasina murungu.

Kukudza murungu kunge Mwari. To worship a whiteman like God,” he said

“Let us be our own masters, our very true owners and true developers of our resources.

Those who want to do business are free to come, even to our Chinese friends we say you don’t just come, you have to respect our rules.”

He rubbished claims that foreign capital was the panacea to solving the country’s problems.

“That capital is greater than any other factor is absolute nonsense,” said President Mugabe.

“That is what is used to deprive people of their resources…yes bring your own capital we will reward you. We need business, but the land is ours, we do not say use your tractor for nothing or use your technology for nothing.

“But you cannot say because we are owners of capital, we are now owners of the resources.

This is what they do to poor countries with oil.

They say because we bring the machinery to drill the oil you get 10 percent (of the proceeds)….ndozvatirikuramba. That’s theft, that’s criminal, that’s robbery.

“If you do that you are not a good custodian of those resources for your people, you can­not be president. They (foreign companies) should not say because of their ability to dig they own our resources, that philosophy is dirty, it is filthy, it is criminal.”

President Mugabe said Government was now considering preserving the mining sector for Zimbabweans.

“I have told the Minister of Mines and Mining development that we have had enough of this 51 percent/49 percent ownership structure, lets us just go at it on our own,” he said.

“We have miners, geologists, engineers like vana J B Matiza (who worked with designers of the conference centre) let us dig on our own.”

President Mugabe castigated foreign companies holding mining claims for speculative purposes and said if multinational companies operating in the country were not comfort­able with the indigenisation policies they were free to leave and locals would take over.

Turning to regional neighbours, the President said it was necessary that the countries craft business linkages that brought mutual benefits.

“To our neighbours, we can agree (business deals) on reciprocal basis, our companies do business in South Africa and they do business in Zimbabwe, on a 50-50 basis,” he said.

President Mugabe said Zimbabwe would not accept situations where companies from the region benefited from the country’s resources, yet local companies were prevented from entering their markets.

He urged local companies venturing into foreign countries to always create partnerships with local people in those countries to ensure cordial working relations.

The Zanu-PF conference is being held under the theme Indigenise, Empower, Develop and Create Employment.

Thousands of delegates are attending the conference at the newly built state-of-the-art convention centre 10km outside Gweru.

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