Zanu-PF claims membership surge in Bulawayo

Zanu-PF has claimed a significant increase in membership after hundreds of vendors and supporters gathered along Bulawayo's Fifth Avenue on Saturday for the party's national cell verification exercise, part of a nationwide campaign to strengthen grassroots structures.

The exercise forms part of Zanu-PF's programme to verify and update membership records while consolidating party structures from cell to district level ahead of future mobilisation initiatives.

Fifth Avenue, where many traders have dubbed the area "Patriotic Vendors4ED Street", was filled with party regalia as supporters queued to verify their membership details while new members registered to join the ruling party.

The event was led by Patriotic Vendors4ED Bulawayo provincial chairperson Jonas Chiro and attended by senior party officials, including the organisation's national chairperson, Sawu Jere.

Speaking to journalists, Chiro said the turnout had exceeded expectations.

"What you are seeing here is what we call 'entryism' in English," he said.

"Today we witnessed a rapid influx of hundreds of people registering to join Zanu-PF, while our old members also came out in very large numbers to verify their names."

Jere described the exercise as a major success, saying vendors had responded enthusiastically to the mobilisation campaign.

"As you can see, all the vendors along 5th Avenue today are happy. They are proud of this well-organised, timeous national event," he said.

"Just two weeks ago I released a poster that circulated widely on social media calling for this turnout, and Bulawayo vendors answered that call."

Jere attributed the turnout to growing confidence in President Emmerson Mnangagwa's leadership and the government's development agenda.

"They came in their numbers to the moving train that cannot be stopped or fitted into anyone's pocket," he said.

"Honestly speaking, Zanu-PF is a gigantic moving train that no one can stop under the sun.

"Under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and through the implementation of NDS1 and now NDS2, he is delivering infrastructure, development projects and improved livelihoods."

He also urged opposition supporters to join the ruling party.

"I invite even members of the opposition to come freely and join Zanu-PF so that we can build our nation together," Jere said.

"Well done, vendors. You are now the pillars of Zanu-PF, the national people's party. Keep on keeping on."

Throughout the morning, supporters sang liberation songs, chanted party slogans and waved party banners and regalia as the verification exercise continued.

Zanu-PF says the nationwide programme is aimed at strengthening grassroots structures and updating membership records across the country as the party prepares for future mobilisation activities.