Last Saturday, as the sun blazed in Mutoko, thousands of ZANU PF supporters thronged Chinzanga Primary School for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s first rally in Mashonaland East.
They were in a jovial mood.
A new trend in the country’s politics is being set by the ED-led administration.
Development has become the hallmark of the new politics.
The economy now dominates ZANU PF rallies, a marked departure from the politics of the old.
So there it was in Mutoko, the new way of doing things.
The Chinzanga rally was, as has become the trend under the new administration, preceded by a tour of the thriving Nyangani Renewable Energy, a solar project.
The project is currently feeding 2,5 MW into the national grid and as its expansion continues, it is expected to generate 10 MW.
It was during the tour of the project that President Mnangagwa touched on a key issue that is anchoring his well-received manifesto — corruption!
He could not hide his frustration over the failure of the much talked about Gwanda Solar Project to take off three years after awarding of a tender to a local ‘businessman’.
“Both experiences are good because we should never repeat what happened in Gwanda,” he said.
“So both experiences give us good lessons.
“Here is a project recently started and we are having 2,5 MW into the national grid and soon it will be 10MW into the national grid. In Gwanda, it is in the third year now and nothing has happened.
“We need, in the future, to have committed people who have experience in projects of this nature, not these fly-by-night briefcase businessmen.”
Chikurubi is not full, he warned those looting people’s resources.
Chinzanga Primary School grounds were packed full of ZANU PF supporters.
They came from across the province, a traditional ZANU PF stronghold, to see first-hand the man who is steadily transforming the country’s fortunes decimated by more than a decade of embargoes.
True to form, the message was for the people.
It was about their aspirations and the Zimbabwe they have been dreaming about.
Crucially, it unravelled what the future has in store for the country.
“We are a new dispensation, we are a new Zimbabwe, we are a new era, (and) we want a new future,” he said.
“We are a new dispensation that has brought about a new hope for this country.
“We are bringing hope for the young, hope for the old, hope for our children, hope for our grandparents. We are a party of hope, a party that must preserve the heritage of our country.
“We are a party that is non-selective and we are saying everyone in Zimbabwe should benefit from our legacy.”
Traditional leaders, said President Mnangagwa, must be accorded the respect they deserve by those aspiring to win the elections.
He stressed that the traditional leaders are the custodians of the country’s culture and traditions.
“I want to plead with the leadership of the Party that they should respect traditional leaders in the areas they come from,” said President Mnangagwa.
“I also urge Government employees to respect traditional leaders in the areas they work in.
“The Government has said it will look after the welfare of the chiefs because our traditions and values are safeguarded by the chiefs.
“We have respect for our traditional leaders and they have a space in our national Constitution.
“But the traditional leaders must remember that there is a party called ZANU PF.
“You lead subjects in areas within your jurisdiction, but ZANU PF leads the whole country. So be united with ZANU PF and work with it.”
Judging by the electric mood that engulfed that rally, there was no doubt that ED had indeed lit up Mutoko.