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Lovemore Chikova in BEIJING, China
Ruling parties like Zanu-PF must maintain discipline and always be connected to the people if they want to remain in power and be relevant, a Chinese official has said. The deputy director-general for the Bureau of African Affairs International Department Central Committee Communist Party of China, Mr Wang Heming, was speaking yesterday while answering a question from The Herald during a press conference here.

Describing Zanu-PF as a great party with a glorious history, Mr Wang said the CPC was able to remain in power and initiate progress for China because of discipline among its members and people-oriented programmes.

“Actually, I think that Zanu-PF is also a great party with a big status in Zimbabwe and has also a glorious history,” he said.

“CPC and Zanu-PF have maintained flourishing relations with each other and we have also done a lot in terms of exchanges and sharing our experiences.

“Some of the important secrets or instruments for CPC to maintain itself as a ruling party of China for such a long time is that we always connect the theories and our ideology with our practices on the ground. We always keep ourselves closely connected to the people and we also consider criticism and self-criticism as important instruments of party building.”

Zanu-PF has of late been grappling with disciplinary issues among some of its members, which has led to the expulsion of some high-ranking individuals, including former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her putschist cabal.

More disciplinary issues have continued to flood the National Disciplinary Committee since the expulsion of the Mujuru cabal last year, affecting efforts by the party to turnaround the economy.

Mr Wang said the CPC was managing to effectively put its theories into practice, thereby assuring its survival and close bond with the people.

“Chairman Mao (Zedong) said we should consider the relations between the party and the people as relations between the fish and the water,” he said.

“We all come from the people and we should remain and stay connected with the people. One of the principles of CPC is to serve the people and it is more than a slogan. It is what we do, that is why we can get the support of the people for such a long time.”

Mr Wang said the CPC also emphasised on discipline among its members, which has been the bedrock of its success and unity.

“Members must abide by the decisions of the Central Committee and after the final decision is made by the Central Committee the entire party members will implement it,” he said.

“That is why we have gained efficiency in national construction and development.”

Mr Wang criticised the West for pouring money to opposition parties in Africa instead of directing the funds to help the people.

He said Western countries were also practising double standards when speaking about democracy.

“Ruling parties and opposition parties must work together for the welfare of the people. As I see now, some of the opposition parties in some African countries oppose ruling parties only for the sake of opposition and this is quite energy consuming and resource consuming too and causes chaos,” said Mr Wang.

Mr Wang said Western countries criticised China’s type of democracy when they were worse off.

“Let me draw your attention to America, there are only two contesting political parties in the United States — the Democrats and the Republicans — and they do not allow a third party to be set up and participate in the elections,” he said.