'Our governance should give hope to the people' says Tsvangirai

Morgan Tsvangirai has declared that the MDC-T is ready to govern. He said this while addressing Provincial delegates in Manicaland today at Queens Hall in Mutare at a Provincial council, the 11th of which the President has been addressing nationwide. "MDC-T is ready and so am I. I am ready to take power. After we win the elections, we should defend our victory but we need stability," he said much to the great applause from people.

President Tsvangirai said his message to Provincial councils has always been the same. "There is a distinctive narrative between the performance of Zanu PF in governance and MDC-T performance in governance. We should not repeat a culture of corruption created by Zanu Pf. Ngatitadzei tichiedza, (Asehlulekeni sizama). We should have commitment to move this country forward. We are in a transitional period. We are going through a generational transition; from those who fought the liberation struggle to those who want to develop the independent Zimbabwe. We are also going through a political transition where we have to change the political culture set by Zanu PF over the past three decades of one man one rule of an imperial President. We want to change from a political transition of dominance by one party, by one man.

"As MDC-T, we must change that narrative of political governance set by Zanu PF. Our difference must be like sunrise and sunset. As MDC-T, we want to create a modern, democratic and developmental state. Our governance should give hope to the people," he said.

He said Zanu PF had politicised everything even the distribution of food aid or agricultural inputs. President Tsvangirai pointed out some few obstacles that might draw people back but encouraged them to soldier on saying it is very much possible to win the next coming elections because we are determined from a long time back in 1999, when we took a risk and some where maimed while others were murdered.

"We should overcome fear of defeat. You should not become afraid before an attempt. We should be determined to win the next elections resoundingly," he said.

He also said people need to get rid of fear of victory. "Do not be afraid of victory. We got into government with no experience but we had a plan. Right now we will use the experience we got in government but we must be clear on what we want to do to the people from day one. Our transition plan in government is to create jobs, build enabling infrastructure, improve the education and health sector among other things," he said.

President Tsvangirai explained that the Lancaster constitution was a power transfer document and not about democracy. "If you have no clear plan of what you want to do, then you are creating conditions of another revolution against yourself. You cannot have a government with a party that does not know what it is  doing. "Power is institutional. If you want power for yourself alone then you are a dictator. MDC-T is an institution, you can't destroy it," he said.

He also said leadership cohesion and party unity should not be lip service. "It needs to be genuine, real. You must mean it. Leadership cohesion means team work. A team is not an individual. If we are to win, we win as a team. There is no looser in a winning team. Leadership is about influence, it's not about how many degrees you have. It's good to be educated but be educated with a purpose. Don't try to run a personal programme, hazvizi zvako, ndezveparty. Once you elect a leadership, you should have confidence in them. We waste our efforts looking for the negatives," he said.

He explained the need to celebrate our successes now and not to wait to just hero worship dead people. He said the new constitution is an MDC-T delivery point.

Concerning election candidates he said there is not going to be a candidate imposition. "Our message is that we are not imposing candidates. We should have a protocol because a party with no protocol has no discipline. Some of the councillors have damaged the image of this party and this time we want set qualifications for councillors who we will give performance bench marks. We need to know what you are going to contribute in that council. We have zero tolerance to corruption. No, No, No, No to Corruption.

President Tsvangirai took a swipe on gossipers and said there is need for message discipline. "I don't need problems but programmes. I need programmes to solve those problems. Let's not emphasize the issue of problems. Let's emphasise on solutions. Why don't you look for opportunities not challenges?" he said.

He explained that it is ZEC's responsibility to conduct voter registration and that people should be registered at ward level. He concluded by saying as MDC-T, we want ZEC, to explain a clear roadmap on the role of security sector in the next coming elections.

Chairman Lovemore Moyo spoke of the responsibility of the chairman's office and said it is to make sure the party is ready for elections, to have a non violent party, to enforce discipline in the party and conflict avoidance, management and resolution. "As leadership we should know our values and principles as a party. The issue of elections is a conflict on its own and we should not allow ourselves to be divided again.

Deputy Treasurer General, Minister Elton Mangoma explained that resources are limited but people should perform their best and create strategies to improvise. "Resources are limited and so there is no favouritism in allocation of them as some would want to think.

He also explained MDC-T national economic blue print currently held under the theme JUICE: Jobs, Upliftment, Investment Capital and  the Environment. "This policy outlines our framework for full economic recovery, with a return to sustainable and inclusive growth policies aimed at uplifting every Zimbabwean. JUICE is the pathway to macroeconomic stabilization, institutional and structural reforms that will restore hope and pride in our economy and spur long term economic growth.

"Consistent with our vision to create a better future for our citizens, the MDC-T approach is a comprehensive economic strategy aimed at job creation, upliftment, capital investment and sound environmental management.

"Through a cluster based development model, our policy approach will facilitate the development of economic growth nodes in peri-urban zones to create a more balanced economy, all of which is aimed at reducing high levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality," he explained.

Deputy organising secretary Hon Abednico Bhebhe said their focus is scientific organising where they are more concerned with figures and statistics. He spoke of structure audit, accelerated card sales, supremacy of the branch, regular district real change rallies, to recruit first time voters, recruitment drive, political education, post congress integration among other issues.

In his report, the Provincial chairman Julius Magarangoma said they as a Province are committed to maintain their number one position and not only retain the 20 seats currently under MDC-T but to increase them to 23 from 26.

"We have a huge number of dormant voters and those are our target. We know how important the next elections are and we have since embarked on a voter registration process. Our number one priority is to win the next elections. We are not going to deliver less that 23 MP's out of 26 districts in Manicaland," he said.

Chairman Magarangoma explained that as part of their efforts to win the next elections, they have buried their pre and post congresses differences and are unitedly moving forward geared to win the next elections.