Zanu-PF in early election mode

Zanu-PF has begun issuing electronic cards to its members as the party gears up for the 2023 national elections.

This comes as President Emmerson Mnangagwa lit the torch paper to the Zanu-PF campaign during an address at a politburo meeting last month where he urged the party to completely bury the opposition come next elections.

Speaking in Kwekwe during the pilot exercise to issue electronic party membership cards last week, Zanu-PF political commissar Victor Matemadanda said the programme is set to boost the ruling party's support base ahead of the 2023 elections.

"The current situation wants people that are hands on, informed and truly committed to party work. We are challenging every department of our party to make sure that they put in place strategies that will contribute to five million votes before the 2023 election," Matemadanda said

Zanu-PF secretary for finance, Patrick Chinamasa, said the electronic membership cards will reduce internal disputes in primary elections ahead of the elections.

"This process is very important. I realise that intra-party conflicts arise mainly from the conduct of primary elections. Cell registers which will be captured at headquarters will become the voters' roll for the purpose of our primary elections.

"I hope when we get to that stage we can kill once and for all any accusations by those who lose primary elections that the process did not go down well," Chinamasa said, adding the process will be done in every constituency across the country.

Zanu-PF Midlands chairperson Daniel Mackenzie-Ncube said it was key to prepare for the elections now.

"We are now entering the election period. We are in 2021 and we can't wait for 2022. We must gear up so that we win overwhelmingly," he said.

This comes as the ruling party has ruled out the postponement of the 2023 polls - which some key stakeholders, including churches, have suggested should be parked for seven years to allow the country to heal from its decades-long toxic politics.

Last month, Mnangagwa also said the country's improving economy would give Zanu-PF a significant edge over the opposition in 2023.

"In all that we do, let us remain focused towards a resounding victory in 2023 and reclaim dominance in all of the country's provinces, including the urban areas.

"The party, in its programmes and activities, must align with the aspirations of the people and work for a resounding victory in the general elections.

"We also look forward to achieving higher impact gains in the remaining years before the next harmonised elections in 2023," Mnangagwa said.

"I implore the party leadership to continue providing strategic leadership to the wings and structures of the party to achieve a thunderous victory in 2023, as well as to realise Vision 2030.

"I, therefore, expect all politburo heads of department to refocus all departmental plans to complement the objectives of NDS-1 (the country's new economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy).

"The youth league, in particular, is urged to implement a comprehensive and robust mobilisation plan to attract and keep more youth in the party with the 2023 elections in mind.

"This must take into account the present realities with regards to the country's demography and pertinent socio-economic, technological and cultural opportunities," Mnangagwa said further.

"An increasing number of people across the socio-economic and political divide are acknowledging the apparent good policies and interventions by our party and the government.

"Many have begun to see that Zanu-PF policies in the Second Republic are sustainable and in the interest of the long term good of all citizens," Mnangagwa added.