Only a devolved Zimbabwe can bring development - Mabuka

The ZAPU Bulawayo Provincial Council held its monthly meeting at the ZAPU office on Sunday 26th June. The meeting was assessing the ongoing mobilization programs and was told that there are new breakthroughs in areas that have been difficult in the past. Noticeable areas were the Makokoba District that covers Makokoba, Nguboyenja and Mzilikazi suburbs and the Bulawayo East district. More branches have also sprung up in Nkulumane and in the Luveve/Cowdry Park District.

The Provincial Department of Welfare bemoaned the city fathers' decision to attach houses because of failure to pay rent or rates. Council of elder's leader James Mlevu was at pains in expressing his disgust at the insensitivity of the councillors who do not care about the old, weak and vulnerable members of the Bulawayo Community. He criticised the excessive love for money and personal gain demonstrated by both the local and national government officials who no longer bother about the plight of the people they claim to represent.

The Department of Mobilisation exposed the ongoing vote-buying by ZanuPF who are using their political and military control of the state machinery to mobilise resources into forcing the population to vote for them in 2018. The department noted that these resources are collected in the name of the government but distributed along partisan lines. It is only "Zanupf members" who receive whatever is distributed by the state. It was noted that the rigging of the 2018 general election process has already started as the ruling party is feasting on the miserable economic condition of the people. The people desperately flock to ZanuPF offices for survival, whether it is to receive chickens from Vice President Mphoko, sewing machines from Minister Tshinga Dube or free urban stands from Minister Kasukuwere. The department said it is encouraging though to note that the people of Bulawayo have now learnt all about the dirty tricks of the dictatorship. They have seen the futility of getting a sewing machine as a reward for a vote for a five year political and economic hell that has thrown them into this seemingly unending misery.

The Health department appealed to the Zapu National Leadership to seriously look at the plight of the poor people who cannot afford to go outside the country for treatment. It noted with shock the lack of urgency from the Ministry of Health to save lives of people as they now go to the hospitals to obviously die instead of getting treatment.

The ZAPU National Chairman Cde. Mabuka pointed out to the members that the cause of the people's suffering is the deliberate political arrogance of the government. He urged the Provincial leadership of Bulawayo to be more resolute in talking to the people about the genuine devolution of power. He emphasized that only a genuinely devolved Zimbabwe (as the constitution says) is the answer. The piece meal changes or the sugar coated poisonous donations of the ruling party must be exposed to the people as they are intended to grossly mislead the population. Cde Mabuka pointed out that not every youth in Bulawayo can get a free stand even if they wanted. Not every woman will get chickens from Vice President even if they want or need. He then urged the party members at every level in Bulawayo to bravely talk to the majority of the people who are not recipients of the ZanuPF packs to make sure that they create a truly democratic Zimbabwe and that ZAPU is a dedicated party for everyone everywhere in Zimbabwe.