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‘ZANU PF born again’

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THE revolutionary Party, ZANU PF, had seen its credentials incrementally eroded by unscrupulous elements who had brought to the fore greed, corruption, name-calling, lack of respect for the leadership and malice, among other vices.
Plots, counter-plots and conspiracy theories had become the order of the day in the revolutionary Party, in the process drifting away from what the Party stands for.
ZANU PF had lost its unique revolutionary identity anchored on a strong ideology and discipline.
But the state of affairs was different on Friday, December 15 2017 at the 7th ZANU PF Extraordinary Congress.
The Party has been ‘born again’.
It was clear at the Congress that the Party has been rejuvenated and is ready to confront challenges as a single unit.
In fact, the unity demonstrated by the delegates as they participated in the proceedings had become rare at gatherings held by the ruling Party in recent months.
Party members had become known for bad-mouthing each other and publicly chastising perceived enemies.
“Pasi nanhingi!” (down with so and so) had become a normalcy.
Scores were settled through rallies and Party leaders were fired willy-nilly.
Party procedures were no longer followed.
But the recent Congress had a different air of euphoria.
The Extraordinary Congress demonstrated that a new culture has swept across the Party, in which the business of the Party is treated with seriousness.
When it was time for serious business, the delegates gave all their concentration.
Songs defying individuals were deterred.
Addressing the Extraordinary Congress, ZANU PF First Secretary and President, Emmerson Mnangagwa implored Party members to desist from singing praise songs for him.
Said President Mnangagwa: “The role you have given me and the office you have inserted me into, can never be partitioned to anyone.
The praise song I desire, if you were to sing one, is that of our National Anthem and those from the liberation struggle, not for myself, no!
If you sing the National Anthem, if you sing those national songs then me and you are together.”
He said regionalism and titles such as ‘G40’ and ‘Lacoste’ must be condemned.
Said President Mnangagwa: “In light of the above, regionalism, factionalism and titles such as ‘G40’ and ‘Lacoste’ must be condemned and migrate from the body of our Party forthwith.”
Praise singing and bootlicking had reached alarming levels in ZANU PF as leaders were compared to God.
ZANU PF officials and opportunists would stampede each other to get the former First Secretary and President, Cde Robert Mugabe’s attention.
But this, said President Mnangagwa, should stop forthwith.
It became clear that many did not know the revolutionary songs save for the war veterans.
As provinces introduced themselves, they sang Christian songs such as ‘Tawanirwe Nyasha’ and ‘Ebenezer’.
It was only after the Secretary for Women Affairs Cde Marble Chinomona took the microphone, that a few revolutionary songs were heard.
For the past 37 years, ZANU PF has been talking about the need to establish a Herbert Chitepo Ideological College but that idea was finally put into practise following the appointment of Cde Munyaradzi Machacha as principal director of the institution.
Though officially launched in September last year, nothing had materialised.
The school, must among other issues, teach ZANU PF members the songs of the revolution.
Most revolutionary songs were composed during the liberation struggle.
The songs, war cries of the struggle clearly defined the objectives of the liberation war.
Some of these songs include ‘Mukoma Nhongo bereka sabhu tiende’, ‘Nyika yedu yeZimbabwe’, ‘Ruzhinji rwatsidza’, ‘Sendekera mukoma Takanyi’, ‘Chimoto’, ‘Tora gidi uzvitonge’, ‘Kugara nyika yavo’, ‘Tonosvitsana Britain’, ‘Yakange yaoma’ and ‘Emoyeni Kuyatshisa’, among others.
Talented comrades such as Cde Vhu, Light Machine Gun (LMG) Choir and Cde Dick ‘Chinx’ Chingaira composed the songs that were sung during the liberation war.
Groups like Kasongo Band comprising Knowledge Kunenyati, Marko Sibanda, Mukoma Ketai Muchawaya and others also churned out songs that motivated the cadres who were at the front to continue fighting the enemy.
Music was a powerful tool in driving the war of liberation. Some scholars have since argued the war was won through song and dance, drama and poetry.
Songs like ‘Nzira Dzemasoja’ guided the conduct of the guerillas in the bush.
The song directed how a soldier must behave, obey rules and regulations, not to exploit or rob the masses, return anything confiscated for military reasons.
In the same vein, more revolutionary songs must be churned as they espouse the ideals of the Party.
This is essential as there is deterioration of patriotism and understanding of the ZANU PF ideology within its structures, particularly by those who did not participate in the liberation struggle.
This new crop also has no idea of the Leadership Code that was adopted at the ZANU PF People’s Congress in 1984, where in its preamble, it stated that: “ZANU PF regards corruption as an evil disease destructive of society.”
The Leadership Code defined and guided ZANU PF and its leadership.
It was the commitment, conviction, honesty and dedication espoused in the code that drove and won the liberation war.
It got lost in the intoxicating noise celebrating independence.
More so, some do not even know the full name of ZANU PF beyond the abbreviation.
At the end of the day, ZANU PF is portrayed as a Party without an ideology.
And any party without an ideology collapses.
Ideology is applicable to all parties.
The ZANU PF Extraordinary Congress was held under the theme, ‘Consolidating the Gains of Zim-ASSET through Unity, Peace and Development’.
It was attended by members of the Central Committee, Politburo, National Consultative Assembly, War Veterans, Ex-Detainees, Ex-Restrictees and War Collaborators.
Also in attendance were traditional leaders, ministers and deputy ministers, former ministers, service chiefs, senior Government officials, representatives of liberation movements from the region, members of the diplomatic corps and students representatives.

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