Things Zanu-PF need not do to win resoundingly

Zanu-PF as a revolutionary people's party has done everything right to win the harmonised elections likely to take place this year. Over the years, the party has been consistent on its policies to empower the indigenous Zimbabweans. The successes of the land reform and economic empowerment programmes have endeared Zanu-PF with the majority of the electorate. The youths have seen programmes to empower them being channelled through the relevant ministry, and a significant number of youths have seen reason why Zanu-PF has remained the party to bring true and total economic and political independence to Zimbabwe.

It has been evident over the years that the leadership of Zanu-PF has been fighting relentlessly for the people of Zimbabwe to be masters of their own destiny. Zimbabweans should be a proud people, in a country endowed with rich natural resources, which Zanu-PF has been calling on people to own and control. Paramount to this, was the thrust by the Zanu-PF government on educating its people so that they do not remain subservient and inferior to other nationalities. Because of these people-centred policies and programmes and the committed principled stance of the President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF Comrade Mugabe, Zanu-PF has endeared many Zimbabweans as the only party that has the solutions to the Zimbabwean challenges.

These strengths of Zanu-PF will see the party win the forthcoming harmonised elections freely and fairly and most importantly resoundingly.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, there are certain things that Zanu-PF need to be wary of in the run up to the harmonised elections. These things which are currently taking place as aspiring candidates canvass for support should be regulated and monitored so that the 2008 Bhora Musango mantra is not repeated. To win resoundingly Zanu-PF needs all the people and a resounding victory will be certain.

The personalisation of supporters syndrome should be discouraged at all cost. Aspiring candidates should not claim to own people by saying "my people." No Zanu-PF leader owns any people. People belong to the party Zanu-PF, and the party is supreme. Leaders are chosen from the people who belong to the party. Claims by some aspiring candidates that they have people sow seeds of division in the party and is a remnant symptom of the Bhora Musango campaign. The leadership should decisively act on this syndrome and ensure that aspiring candidates in whatever they do they should speak Zanu-PF first and foremost and then the value they can bring to Zanu-PF if elected into parliament.

The disbanding of District Coordinating Committees sought to rein in some comrades who had become all too powerful. Some of the members used dirty tactics to lure people to their corners. Today as aspiring candidates canvass for support, a new culture of campaigning has emerged. Unsuspecting rural electorate is made to believe that people with access to resources and money are leaders. Instead of following the footsteps of our revered leader Comrade Mugabe who is calling on people to be masters of their own destiny and employers in their own right, the electorate is being turned into cheap recipients of small parcels.

Whilst it is good to empower people with sustainable projects, Zanu-PF leadership should regulate and monitor this new trend of campaigning which might soil the image of the party. People must be allowed to choose a leader of their own choice without being forced to do so as a way of returning a favour to someone. This culture of campaigning compromises the integrity and ability of our leaders since they would not have been chosen on the strength of their programmes and/or merit.

The forthcoming primary elections should seek to build bridges between the winner and losing candidate. After people have spoken freely and peacefully, the losing candidates should then work hard to campaign for the winning candidate so that Zanu-PF wins the elections resoundingly.

Notwithstanding, winning the forthcoming harmonised elections by Zanu-PF is a foregone conclusion and is non-negotiable. What we need to ensure is that the margin of the votes is not contestable by other parties. It has to be an overwhelming majority. This is possible only if as Zanu-PF we continue to put our act together. We need to avoid tactics that are divisive. We need to work for  Zanu-PF and the country which our dear brothers and sisters sacrificed their lives for. The experiences of the BHORA MUSANGO campaign of 2008, and personalisation of people by aspiring candidates, have taught us lessons which we need to consider seriously and take heed of.

The time is now. As aspiring candidates wait for the rules and regulations which will govern the conduct and administration of the Zanu-PF primaries, the leadership should seriously monitor and regulate the campaign methods being used countrywide. Its time we listen to the people. It is from the people that we are going to get the leaders and the mandate to govern the country. The time is now to correct the Bhora Musango campaign of 2008. For Zanu-PF victory is certain.