ZANU PF First Secretary and President, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa welcomed newly appointed Politburo member Rtd General Cde Philip Sibanda to the 393rd Ordinary Session of the Politburo noting that his expertise will churn the Party forward.
During the meeting, President Mnangagwa took time to commend efforts being made to help alleviate the plight of the ordinary people of Zimbabwe.
Below are his remarks to the Politburo members:
“May I begin by inviting us to rise as we observe a minute of silence in honour of the heroes and heroines who passed on since our last meeting. Among them is the late National Hero, Brigadier General (Rtd) Donald Silundi Tshuma, who was interred earlier today. May their departed souls continue to rest in eternal peace.Thank you.
Comrades;
I warmly welcome you to this 393rd Ordinary Session of the Politburo. I recognise and welcome in a special way, Retired General, Cde. Philip Valerio Sibanda, who was known during the struggle as ‘Cde Ananias Gwenzi’. In appointing him to this important structure of our colossal revolutionary mass Party, I am confident that his broad experience will help advance the ongoing work towards the growth and development of our Party.
Under ZANU PF, our national values, cultural norms and rich knowledge systems continue to anchor the ongoing development, modernisation and industrialisation agenda. In this regard, this session, takes place as we conclude our Cultural Month commemorations.
The period saw us celebrate our way of life as an independent African people. Through various events across provinces, our diverse rich cultures were shared and transmitted to our people, particularly the youth.
Party departments, educational institutions, ICTs and media platforms must sustain and continually harness the spirit behind these month-long celebrations for the good of our motherland, Zimbabwe. On our part as national leaders, I exhort us to always re-affirm the position that cultural diversity is a source of unity, social cohesion, and sustainable development. It should never be a basis for division, conflict or discord. There is no culture which is superior than the other. All cultures must be respected.
I commend Bulawayo Province, Ministry of Sport, Arts and Recreation as well as other stakeholders, for successfully hosting this year’s edition of the Culture Month Celebrations.
We also joined the rest of the Continent, in celebrating Africa Day. This annual event is a reminder to the nation that we should do our part to consolidate the gains emanating from the independence and freedom of the African Continent against colonialism. The Vision of a united, prosperous and integrated Africa must be pursued, without any apologies.
Comrades;
As we approach the half year mark, and our next quarterly Constitutional meetings, scheduled for next month, Chairpersons of Standing Committees of the Central Committee, are called upon to adequately prepare the requisite reports. The Committees remain critical centres of innovative policy generation, monitoring and oversight.
To better serve the Central Committee, the Politburo as an executive committee of the Central Committee is urged to always serve with revolutionary vigilance, ideological clarity, integrity and servant leadership.
It is my expectation that Departmental Heads will scale up the rate of implementation of agreed policies and strategies, as we grow our membership as well as professionalise and modernise Party work.
In doing so, let us embrace digital technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence, in Party operations, guided of course, by our agreed communication guidelines and the overarching National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.
Meanwhile, I commend the Women’s League for convening a Seminar for senior female civil servants.
Undoubtedly, such initiatives enhance the impactful role of women in governance and national development, within the context of the national interests as propagated by our ruling People’s Party, ZANU PF.
Under the Second Republic, Government will continue to entrench an environment for women along with other citizens, to excel in both private and public sectors. In keeping with critical aspects of gender mainstreaming,
I appointed Zimbabwe’s first female Chief Justice and a youthful Chartered Accountant, as the country’s new Auditor General.
This is testament of the confidence my Administration has in the capabilities of our citizens, including women and the youth.
I was equally pleased to address a vibrant National Assembly Meeting of the Youth League. It is impressive that the youth wing is broadening transformational empowerment projects for young people across all districts. I, urge, Party departments to give them the requisite support so that they remain an empowered structure, that tows the correct line of the revolution, free from manipulation. Guaranteeing financial sustainability of our Party remains every member’s responsibility.
The centralisation of Party resources is a welcome development. I expect the allocation of Party resources and assets to prioritise programmes and activities that result in higher impacts, and visible outcomes.
Tiri Musangano unozadzisa zvinangwa zvawo. Tiri Musangano wezvinobatika.
ZANU PF is a Party that delivers. At every level and across structures we must always pursue results which are in sync with our decisions, resolutions and policies. I, commend Masvingo Province, for reclaiming Ward of Chiredzi Rural District Council, uncontested.
I challenge Matabeleland North Province, to continue with the mobilisation work towards victories in the scheduled by-elections for Ward 1, 10 and 21 of Tsholotsho District.
Turning to national development projects, I was pleased to commission the new Varun Beverages Snack Production line in Harare and 10 MW Solar Power Plant in Kwekwe as well as laying the foundation stone for the envisioned expansion to 100 MW. These projects, among many other investments being undertaken in all sectors of the economy, are evidence of the confidence in our Party and Government policies.
I want to encourage our citizens to always recognise and celebrate projects or investments undertaken in any part of the country, as these benefits all of us as a nation.
Development is a journey; community by community, sector by sector we shall continue building our country, as a united people, step by step, brick by brick and stone upon stone.
Hatidi avo vanonyunyuta kuti sei izvi zvaitwa uko, kwete kwedu. Ayaiwa! Tirinyika imwe chete. Budiriro iri-kuitika kwese-kwese munyika yedu. Investments in our country, no matter where they occur should be a rallying factor and never manipulated to sow seeds of divisions.
It is encouraging that the ease of doing business and other reforms we are implementing across all sectors, including most recently in Mining, Agriculture and the Creative Industry, are bearing fruit, benefiting both investors and our communities, respectively.
Under ZANU PF, Zimbabwe, will remain a competitive destination, where capital is safe; we are open for business.
On the international front, our Party-led Government remains anchored on the philosophy, ‘a friend to all and an enemy to none’ as we advocate for multilateralism, shared development, sustainable peace and security, as well as uninterrupted global supply chains.
In concluding, I exhort us, to carry on executing the work and responsibility entrusted to us by the Party with commitment, patriotism, and unity of purpose. In all that we do, let us never deviate from the values of loyalty, persistency, consistency and adherence to the correct line of the Party. Leaders should lead by example.”