THERE is so much ZANU PF must do in the great city of Masvingo during the ruling party’s Annual National People’s Conference in Masvingo.
The stakes continue to rise for ZANU PF; what with another year before the elections scheduled for 2018.
In the historic July 31 2013 harmonised elections, ZANU PF collared the confused opposition and threw it into the dustbins of history.
But there have been frenzied efforts within the fractured opposition to build what they say is a ‘coalition’ meant to dislodge ZANU PF from power.
That alone is an overwhelming endorsement for the ever-cruising Party.
Yet the flip side of it all is that ZANU PF must never sleep on the job.
From the perpetually embittered Morgan Tsvangirai to the bland Joice Mujuru, the story has been about forming a purported formidable force to destroy ZANU PF.
Even comic characters like the maverick Tendai Biti and the eccentric Kisinoti Mkwazhi have been part of the orchestra churning the anti-ZANU PF mantra.
But the problem for those behind the old and tired ‘ZANU PF must go’ song is that beyond that mantra is hot air.
On the other hand, ZANU PF presents unique politics to the majority, one that is anchored on policy and sound economic development programmes.
When the ZANU PF rollercoaster descends on Masvingo, it will be about the people and the policies that resonate with the majority.
It will not be a talk show as some have proclaimed; it will be about consolidating the policies that have made ZANU PF the people’s party.
Below are some of the expected issues to be discussed:
The Economy
2016 has been an admittedly difficult year for many but the good thing is that measures have been put in place to mitigate the tragedies of this forgettable year.
A severe cash crunch has been a huge blemish on what would have been an otherwise good year.
The introduction late last month of Bond notes is expected to put to an end the seemingly eternal queues at banks while at the same time complementing the Statutory Instrument 64 (SI64) of 2016 which was put in place to boost local industry and exports.
Several interventions which include, among others, consolidation of the country’s economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-ASSET) will see 2017 flowing.
The Chinese, Russian and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s mega deals will be implemented in earnest while the rehabilitation of the cash cow Chirundu-Beitbridge Road will commence early after the signing last week of the US$1 billion agreement with contractors.
Issues to do with remedial action to arrest the pervading economic challenges are supposed to dominate deliberations in Masvingo.
Agriculture
The farming season gone by was without doubt terrible.
The El Nino menace, itself one of the worst disasters to confront the agriculture sector, has resulted in the country having to adopt several drought mitigatory measures going into the future.
Last year’s El Nino-induced drought put a severe strain on the country’s purse resulting in many priority projects either being shelved or completely ignored.
This farming season looks promising, with rains hitting many parts of the country and Government availing inputs on time through the Command Agriculture Programme and Presidential Inputs Support Scheme.
Cotton, one of the counrty’s strategic crops, has been given priority and support and all is set for farmers to deliver.
Tobacco continues to be Zimbabwe’s mainstay agricultural product and this year the record is set to be higher.
The Party must come up with interventions to curb climate change which is a huge threat to the agriculture sector.
The Politics
At any given time, focus is always on ZANU PF and its internal affairs.
Locally, the opposition is always seized with ZANU PF.
Abroad the situation is the same and this is where ZANU PF must forever be on top of the game.
The fissures witnessed in recent times must be tackled so that the Party goes into the 2018 polls as the solid entity that it should always be.
There must never be room for the enemy to manoeuvre.
The stakes are high in the 2018 polls.
The onus is on the Party to invoke the spirit of the liberation struggle in order to bring together comrades who have been shamelessly brawling in public.
That is not the ZANU PF way of dealing with internal contradictions which are normal for a Party of ZANU PF’s size and stature.
Corruption
In interviews with the local media, ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Dr Ignatious Chombo has hinted that the issue of corruption will be tackled in Masvingo.
The Party must never be blighted by this scourge.
Corruption is an evil that must never be tolerated by any Zimbabwean.
We need a corruption-free society and most significantly a corruption-free nation.
ZANU PF, as usual, will lead the way in ridding the country of this evil.
After Masvingo, ZANU PF will emerge stronger and continue to deliver for the people of Zimbabwe.
Let those with ears listen.