VP Mnangagwa urges cadres to respect Zanu-PF constitution

Zanu-PF cadres should be guided by the party constitution in executing their duties and desist from acts that undermine unity, Second Secretary and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

Presenting his vote of thanks and motion to take note of the address by President and First Secretary Mugabe, Vice President Mnangagwa said party members should remain loyal, observe the policies, rules and regulations of the party, including popularising its policies.

"We all have an inalienable responsibility to jealously safeguard the unity which exists within the party, unity which the late Umdala Wethu, Vice President Joshua Nkomo, the late Soul of the Nation, VaMuzenda and yourself called on us to hold,'' said Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa applauded Women's League secretary Dr Grace Mugabe for her countrywide tours which he said brought vitality and rejuvenation across all party structures of the party as her rallies helped in mobilising membership throughout the country.

He said the Women's League must continue championing its aims and objectives as outlined in the party constitution and their programme of action through the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development.

Mnangagwa said the two ministries were geared to support the league's initiatives which seek to advance the rights of women, children and the elderly and the quest to end child marriages, by legislating suitable and deterrent penalties against child sexual offenders and rapists as well as an end to gender-based violence.

Mnangagwa said the party needed young people of valour prepared to protect and defend the country's sovereignty, national and cultural identity.

He said Government was undertaking initiatives to improve the country's business environment. He said the Government had introduced reforms to ease the cost of doing business which will result in the review of all legislation which previously restricted the operation of business and investment.

Mnangagwa said efforts to revitalise the economy needed both public and private officials to shun corruption and respect the precepts of good governance.

In his speech before inviting President Mugabe to officially open the 15th Annual People's National Conference, Second Secretary and Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko urged delegates to remain united.

Mphoko said unity had been the mainstay of the two revolutionary parties, Zanu and PF-Zapu, which were now united as Zanu-PF.

"Factionalism, in particular, has become a pandemic and if allowed to persist, will destroy the party. Factionalism dissects and weakens the party, because it causes comrades to become suspicious of each other and derails focus on critical issues,'' Mphoko said.

He said President Mugabe was the sole centre of power, which every party member needed to rally behind. Mphoko said insinuations that President Mugabe and the First Lady (Amai Grace Mugabe) were leading a faction were presumptuous as the two were inseparable.

Vice President Mphoko said those fanning factionalism were undermining the party's constitution and appropriate disciplinary action would be taken to rein in errant members.

Mphoko reiterated his call for rapists to be castrated as the sexual abuse of minors was becoming a menace to the nation.

"Your Excellency, I would like to make yet another proposal that anyone who rapes a day-old child up to 15 years, should be castrated. Anyone who rapes a 16-year-old child to 65-year-old woman should be imprisoned for life and anyone who rapes women aged 65 years and above and other vulnerable groups should also be castrated,'' said Mphoko.

Mphoko drew loudest applause from the audience when he said as the chairman of the National Disciplinary Committee, he would not hesitate to chuck out delegates who boo or heckle other members.