Mutsvangwa laments Zanu PF infighting ahead of 2023 elections

SYDNEY SAIZE IN MUTARE

ZANU-PF politburo member and Women’s League secretary for administration, Monica Mutsvangwa, has  called for unity of purpose ahead of the 2023 polls amid infighting in the governing party.

Mutsvangwa, who was a guest speaker at a ZANU-PF Provincial Women’s League executive meeting, held in Mutare last week said the party was bigger than individuals.

“There should never be a person who claims to own the party, as the party is bigger than any individual or individuals.

“If there are grievances, there are channels that have to be followed.

“There is a constitution that we follow as a party and it is supreme and it guides us through and through.

“Above all we have a competent disciplinary committee,” Mutsvangwa said.

Her comments follow serious fissures within the ruling party’s women’s wing which reared its ugly head earlier last month, threatening to tear the liberation party.

This led to Happiness Nyakuedzwa, the provincial women’s boss apologising to Mutsvangwa.

Mutsvangwa said the Women’s League and its executive members is a stand-alone organ and those in positions of authority should be given a chance to perform their duties to the best of their capabilities.

“Let’s give those in positions the space they need to do what they were chosen to do, unhindered by power broking or canvasing for positions,” Mutsvangwa said.

She implored the women’s leadership in the party to leave no one behind in luring new voters to register since ZANU-PF was targeting 5 million votes in the 2023 plebiscite.

“We need to register new voters, which is very important. Manicaland being the third largest in terms of numbers, standing at over 738 000 registered voters, we have to be serious on that drive,” Mutsvangwa.

Harare, with a total of over 952 000 has the highest number of registered voters followed by the Midlands with over 762 000, according to current Zimbabwe Electoral Commission statistics.

“I am happy to know you are into door to door campaigns, visiting universities and colleges, but you should also consider visiting factories, the industries so that we get more members.

“However, I have to hasten to say do not go there in your regalia because you might face resistance, but approach them in your formal wear,” warned Mutsvangwa.

She bemoaned the poor performance of governing party in by-elections despite having many members in its structures.

Mutsvangwa praised the party’s women affairs department on its initiative of assisting new voters acquire identity documents, and engaging in empowerment projects for women as means of self-reliance.

Mercy Sacco, the vice chair for the Women’s League in Manicaland Province called for more empowerment opportunities inclined towards women, particularly agricultural inputs, small loans to ensure they are self-reliant.