Zanu-PF embarks on massive voter mobilisation drive

ZANU-PF Vice-President Kembo Mohadi has said the party will reach five million votes in the 2023 elections as people have seen the fruits of developmental projects being implemented by the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa. Mohadi who is also the party's second secretary is conducting a nationwide engagement with Zanu-PF provincial leadership structures as the ruling party seeks to strengthen its base.

On Tuesday, he met with the party leadership from Matabeleland North Province at the Zanu-PF provincial offices in Lupane. In an interview in Gwanda, Matabeleland South following a closed-door meeting with party leaders from the province yesterday, Mohadi said Government had successfully implemented food security projects such as rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, development of infrastructure such as roads, bridges and dams and construction of schools and clinics.

The meeting was attended by the party's leadership from both the national executive to grassroot structures under strict Covid-19 regulations. All those who attended were tested for Covid-19. Provincial heads of Government departments also submitted reports on projects which were underway and progress made.

"The Zanu-PF Government has done a lot in delivering electoral promises. If we look at Matabeleland South Province, we have food security projects where we talk about resuscitation of irrigation schemes, when we look at infrastructure development, we have roads and dams. There are also schools and clinics that have been constructed. Devolution funds have also yielded positive results in Matabeleland South through development of various infrastructure," he said.

Government under the Second Republic is championing projects that include construction of Tuli-Manyange Dam, establishment of 2 500-hectare Zhobe Irrigation Scheme, rehabilitation of Tshikwalakwala, Sebasa and Guyu Chelesa irrigation schemes among other projects. Mohadi said among issues that were discussed during the meeting was how to grow the party and foster unity. He said the party has to go to elections with a solid and united front.

Mohadi said members of District Co-ordinating Committees (DCCs) have been tasked to go out in full force and ensure the growth and formation of cells at grassroots level in order to achieve five million votes in the 2023 harmonised elections. He said preparations for the Zanu-PF National People's Conference to be held next month were underway. On the agenda will be able to evaluate the performance of Government post-elections.

"Preparations for the Zanu-PF National People's Conference which will be held in October are on course. It will be held in Bindura. Mostly we will have to review progress of Government post-elections and also come with strategies to strengthen the party," he said.

"There must be unity of purpose within the party and they should avoid factions. Party members should have an attitude of a constructive nature. They must also tell the people about the achievements of the new dispensation during the three years that it has been in office."

In an interview, Zanu-PF Matabeleland South acting provincial chairman, Never Khanye said Mohadi had left them with a task to have unity of purpose and to work with Government departments to implement devolution projects.

He said they were also given a task to urge people to register to vote in order to protect constituencies the party won in the 2018 elections and gain more.

"As Matabeleland South we assured him that we support the projects that have been implemented by Government under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa and we are also pleased by the development we have seen in the province. As a cattle breeding province we have also appealed for more projects that will boost livestock production within the province," he said.