ZANU-PF is a democratic party

ZANU-PF is an epitome of a government for the people by the people. The party values the contributions of its grassroots from which it derives, hence the reciprocity of the electorate who have time and again demonstrated their confidence through sweeping electoral victories. In a nutshell, the party's supreme power is vested in its citizens and exercised directly by them or by their elected leaders under an electoral system.

In this view, one scholar noted, "People shouldn't be afraid of their Government. Governments should be afraid of their people." I am proud enough and unashamed to attest to the manifestation of democracy in the revolutionary party.

Many opposition parties are against the ruling party, questioning its commitment to democratic principles. Democracy rests upon the principles of majority rule and individual rights. ZANU-PF tries hard to decentralize Government to regional and local levels, understanding that all levels of Government must be as accessible and responsive to the people as possible.
 
As a democratic party, ZANU-PF fights for equal opportunities for its people. The ruling party supports affirmative action to help certain target groups, such as women and children. Of late, women were considered as underperformers and useless in all decision making sectors, but nowadays through policies such as gender equality, women can now fully participate in politics and decision making in all spheres of endeavour.

Democratic governments understand that one of their prime functions is to protect such basic human rights and civil liberties as freedom of speech and religion; the right to equal protection under law; and the opportunity to organize and participate fully in the political, economic, and cultural life of society. Recently, the Constitutional Court removed from the statutes Section 31 (a) (iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act), which criminalized defamation, meaning that defamation is no longer a criminal offence. The section was dismissed as unjustifiable in a democratic society. The court ruled that the law was in breach of freedom of expression as enshrined in the Constitution

All party members are given the opportunity to select their representatives through secret ballot. Any party member in ZANU-PF is free to campaign for his or her preferred party position. Recently, ZANU-PF Women's League endorsed the appointment of First Lady, Grace Mugabe, as its preferred candidate for Women's League Secretary ahead of the wing's congress in August. However, this move by the Women's League does not restrict any party member from contesting for that same position. This clearly demonstrates that democracy exists in the ZANU-PF Government.

Furthermore, in a recent interview, ZANU-PF Women's League spokesperson, Monica Mutsvangwa, said there are 33 vacant positions in the League's structure that any party member is free to challenge. Following that, elections will be held such that party members will choose their best candidate who will represent them.

ZANU-PF is a party of the people for the people. This party caters for all the marginalized groups regardless of their religious beliefs, gender and physical well being around the country to participate and have their voice heard in the political and social process and achieve a greater level of equality.


In addition, other ZANU-PF policies such as Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act and the land reform programme indicate the pervasiveness of democracy within ZANU PF. The indigenisation law was also enacted to empower the indigenes of this land, so that the black Zimbabwean people could make full use of their God-given resources.