'Stop factionalism,' says Grace Mugabe

The First Lady, who is also the Zanu-PF Secretary for Women's Affairs, Dr Grace Mugabe has castigated those still engaging in factionalism in the party, warning that their clandestine actions will be revealed one of these days.

Dr Mugabe says she is not afraid to speak against those engaging in factionalism, urging party members to refuse to be involved in such acts.

"Don't be fooled into engaging in factionalism.Vanhu varikuita zve factionalism ndivo mapenzi vanoita zvekugeza kuchinaya (Those engaged in factionalism are fools)," says Dr Mugabe, adding "Vese varikuita zvakarerekera ku factionalism, you stop it."

Dr Mugabe said Zanu-PF should instead take advantage of the chaos in MDC-T which has split into many factions.

She warned those in high positions to be exemplary and straightforward saying any wrong doing and abuse of her name will not be taken lightly.

"Let's be united and concentrate on the jobs we were given by the President," she said.

The First Lady urged people to pursue peace and not to be fooled by Americans and the west, saying the nation should look at what happened in Libya, Iraq, Tunisia and Egypt, adding that these countries were peaceful when Muammar Gaddafi and Sadaam Hussein were presidents there.

Turning to the ZIM ASSET, Dr Mugabe explained the four clusters of the economic blue print, namely, food security and nutrition, social services, value addition and beneficiation and infrastructure development.

On food security, Dr Mugabe urged Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Samuel Undenge to ensure farmers receive uninterrupted supple of electricity, adding that agriculture is key to the economy .

"If you see someone asking you to switch off farmers then that person is a destroyer, pasinaye (down with such people). Please Va Undenge, agriculture is the backbone of our economy," she said.

"Inyaya ye food security zvinoreva kuti isusu se Zimbabwe tinofanira kuzvirimira zvinokwana, kana paine zvasara totengesera dzimwe nyika (We must be able to sustain ourselves in terms of food and export surplus to other countries)," says Dr Mugabe.

Dr Mugabe urged farmers given land to utilise the land fully to ensure food security.

She said: "If you can't utilise it, be honest enough to surrender it so that the land is given to those who can."

Turning to value addition and beneficiation, Dr Mugabe urged the beneficiation of diamonds in Manicaland so as to get more revenue for the country and create employment.

Amai Mugabe also spoke about the ongoing digitalisation process funded by government to the tune of US$125 million which will ensure that broadcasting airwaves reach all the corners of the country once the process is completed.

Turning to the issue of foreign direct investment, Dr Mugabe urged the youths, who she says have a lot of energy, to pursue peace, as country moves to attract FDIs.

"No one wants to invest in a country which has no peace," she said.

The First Lady says all ministers of government have a role to play in implementing ZIM ASSET, introducing Ministers Kasukuwere (Local Government) Patrick Zhuwao (Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment) whose portfolios touch on social services and value addition and beneficition.

She revealed that the Women's League got tractors through the agriculture mechanisation programme, under the Zimbabwe-Brazil More Food for Africa Programme.

"One tractor will be given to Nyanyadzi area, one for Chakohwa and six for Cashel Valley farmers and other farming equipment," said Dr Mugabe.

Dr Mugabe donated to the people 25 000 litres of cooking oil, 3000 bars washing soap, 3120 bathing soap, washing powder 240kgs, new clothes in 200 boxes, shoes 4 358 pairs, 436 school bags, 119 hand bags, 280 blankets, 100 tonnes Compound D fertiliser, AN fertiliser 100 tonnes, 50 tonnes rice and 250 tonnes.