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1751: That concludes our updates, thank you for joining us

1750: “We are now people under the Second Republic and we should be exemplary to the world. As youths we will continue to support you. Don’t hesitate to come and ask for assistance. Pamberi nekubatana!, Viva youths!, Pamberi neZanu PF!, Pamberi nekutonga!, Pamberi nekurima!, Pasi nemhandu!. I thank you,” says President Mnangagwa as he concludes his speech.

1741: “We were told yesterday in Cabinet that there is infrastructure that was destroyed by rains so RDCs use that devolution fund to rebuild that infrastructure. We want to see the best province that will use the devolution funds to uplift the lives of its people. Every minister should be committed to the development of his or her province and we will support them. We have programme to construct dams because we want that to help for irrigation purposes.

“Through that programme, we want to have enough hectarage to cover us even during drought periods. We want the entire value chain in our production system. Time is no longer on our side. Organise yourselves so that we can empower you through land when the land audit report is out. We don’t want violence in families or communities. We now have a law that prohibits under age marriages. We also receive reports by police of people who commit suicides over minor issues… Resolve differences amicably,”

1732: “Zanu PF respects democracy. We are already planning for 2023 vanotaura vachingotaura. Our understanding is that the majority are the rulers. The voice of the people is the voice of God. Now we are doing restructuring and we don’t want imposition. I want those loved by the people.

“We have not wronged any country but we know those who have wronged us including those whose imposed sanctions on us for redistributing our land. Whether they like it or not, the land reform is irreversible. On our development we can do it on our own but that will be slow. But if we get assistance from others we can accelerate our development. Zimbabwe is open for business and dialogue. Under the Second Republic we brought about devolution. In the past, Central Government was doing all the planning. Now we are saying province by province you know what needs to be developed and we give you money for that. Big projects we do as Central Government.”

1725: “We had Clycone Idai last year and I want to thank all that assisted us. On electricity, we developed Kariba with the help of the Chinese but water is now low. I want to thank the Chinese for helping us to develop Hwange 6 and 7. Last week I was in Abu Dhabi. The crown prince of Abu Dhabi said how many megawatts you want and I said we want 500 and he said I can only assist if you ask for 2000 and above. We signed an agreement with his team last Monday. We are restoring the subsidy on maize. This is a safety net for our people. We have a cheap food policy that we are crafting.”

1717: “Don’t contribute to death of people. We gave the doctors an increment of up to 100 percent but they rejected. We realised that they have an agenda. We now know the agenda. We said you are not the only civil servants. Other civil servant are happy to get 100 percent increment but the doctors refused. We went to court and the strike was declared illegal.

“They want us to continue paying them, hakuna chinouya uvete. We won the elections. We introduced economic reforms. Some want to see results over night. We introduced a basket of currencies in 2009 but there is no country without its own currency. Tambopusawo sei kushayawo yedu. We have introduced ours and the law will descend on those businesses who continue to demand payment in US dollars,”

1710: “We have doubled the Presidential Input Scheme. All families should be self sustainable. In the book of Genesis, God created heaven and earth for six days and said I looked at my work and its good and on the sixth day he created man and said I’m giving you dominion over all creatures. That was his inaugural speech and that is what we should follow. God sais I have given you dominion over earth but iwe uchidya cheziya. Kana uchida Hove bata asi dzinenge dzichitiza wotsvaga mazano ekudzibata.

“Everything is put at your disposal but there should be production on everything. Production is not done through dreams. The central message of God on inauguration is production. Even today we should work to develop our lives. It’s not a Zanu PF word which says work its the word of God that he made in his inaugural speech. We have a vision, a vision to have a middle income economy by the year 2030 so wherever you are work towards vision 2030.”

1707: “All agricultural land apart from that under the jurisdiction of traditional leaders is State land. Just a few weeks ago I was invited by Minister Shiri to a function of young farmers. Most of them are small scale farmers but their output is huge. Other ministers should copy the Ministry of agriculture on the introduction of the youths desk. We want that in every ministry,”

1700: “I was invited to see mining equipment by your leadership under phase one covering province by province. As Government we support our Mines minister on what he wants the Government to do in mining. The national budget has a huge chunk dedicated to mining. Those involved in corrupt activities by Provincial Mining Directors please stop that.

“Empower Bank we have given it $50 million to give to the youths. We have a budget review of that after six months. On the issue of agriculture, Minister Shiri understands farming structures. The first thing is Zimbabwe has arable land. Yes we took our land but some have no resources and others are greedy. There is a family in Mash West with multiple farms. We are waiting for the final land audit report to take some of the farms and allocate to others. On the issue of land barons. There is an audit going on and after that we will publish the names who sold state land,”

1657: “As President, I should have a heart to help people that I lead. I heard about the issue of machetes. There should be a law that stipulates that anyone found with a machete should be a guest at Chikurubi. We should value the sanctity of life. On the Chegutu issue the Minister was evasive. He stood by the law. The law is enacted by the people. Chitando and youths sit down and come up with a law. Organise yourselves and give each other chances to mine,”

1653: “I want to talk about the issue of mining. This EPO thing was brought by the whites. It’s called the Exclusive Prospecting Order. It’s now up to me and the Minister to decide if we still need it. If its not serving any purpose it has to go. On the Chegutu issue, I want things that are done properly.”

1649: “I am happy with your high turn out here in my capacity as President of the party and Government. I love you and I will follow you. If you are herding cattle you do that from behind so that you can see which is straying from the others. Youths, you are the vanguard not only of Zanu PF but of the revolution. When we went to war we were youths. If we fail to recognise that the power of the party is in the youths we will be lost. For us to continue in power the youths are our biggest supporters,”

1646: “Pamberi neZanu PF, Pamberi neyouth yedu, Viva Zanu PF, Pasi nemhandu. Pamusoroi mubati wetsvimbo yeruzha. I want to recognise my deputies who are not here but we were together at the meeting that we had in the morning. Pamusoroi leadership of the youths and central committee. In Zanu PF we have the Main Wing, Women’s League, Youth League and now we have thrown in the War Veterans,”

1644: President Mnangagwa takes to the podium.

1643: “I have seen people from the far end of Manicaland they are here because they love you. I humbly invite you to address your youths,”

1638: Cde Obert Mpofu has now taken to the podium to introduce the guest of honour.

“On behalf of colleagues here you are our leader that is why we elected you. We want you to lead us till 2028 and if you still have strength we want you to continue for another five more years after 2028. We now have another wing in the party led by Cde Mahiya. We are 100 percent behind you. Let’s tell the President the truth. Let’s not burden our President,”

1633: “Zanu PF is bigger than Government. Government leaders should come and support party programmes. There are some leaders who don’t wear party regalia and such leaders should not come to address us without party regalia. We won the elections and MDC Alliance opposed and they lost the court case. Why are we not filing a contempt of court challenge against these people who continue to demean our President?,”

1627: “On the David whitehead may you, Cde President, allow our youths to guard the mine while other processes continue. We have the issue of doctors who have boycotted work yet they forget that they became doctors because of the sacrifices made. If they want to hold the nation at ransom let them go. They are sanctioning our people. We applaud the move taken by Government to fire them,”

1620: Secretary for youth affairs Cde Pupurai Togarepi takes to the podium.

“You showed us that you are a listening President. The hopes of the youths are on you Cde President. On the issue of mining there is massive corruption with provincial mining directors. It will be helpful if we have a youth desk in mining, it will be good if all ministries copy from the Agriculture ministry,”

1610: “The President recently came to launch the national youth farmer awards. This is meant to motivate youths to venture into farming. We have farming colleges and we are urging youths to enroll at those colleges. On equipment, we are saying when the equipment comes the youths should be considered. Let us also take part in value addition of our agricultural produce. The issue of joint ventures and contract is now allowed and we should utilise that”

1606: Agriculture Minister Perrance Shiri is now addressing the youths.

“The youths are the future leaders. We are privileged to have youths determined to venture into farming. Now the youth leadership approached us to have 10 hectares in every province and we gave a directive for that to be done. We have opened a youths desk in the ministry to receive all youths challenges,”

1601: “On EPOs there are two categories. All EPOs that were advertised were objected. EPOs that were awarded years back are being reviewed with a view to cancel them. On the issue of David whitehead, there is a gold rush and that place should be first secured and people should be grouped and apply,”

1550: Minister of Mines Cde Chitando takes to the podium. He says: “We are privileged as Zimbabweans because our President has come up with a vision for us to have a middle income economy by 2030. Let me start to talk about 2030. We have claims that we are going to be giving to youths in every province. We started this in Silobela. Early next year we are going to give youths claims in every province.”

1545: Cde Matutu is back on the podium.

He says: “We requested some of your ministers whom we think they have a lot to do with the youths to be present,”

1532: Cde Tsenengamu is back on the podium and he invites various youths groups to make their presentations

1524: “On the issue of downsizing land Cde President, the youths should also be considered. Minister of State spoke about the issue Mabhemba, we will continue to lose lives if that is not addressed. It happened recently when there was a gold rush in Chegutu.

“There is a lot of gold at David whitehead. Youths can benefit if youths are organised to do mining. Let me thank you for coming here Cde President. There were some disturbances here in Kadoma including the burning of our party office but that has been rectified. I want to thank other youth provincial chairpersons who have come to support us, I thank you.”

1520: Cde Tsenengamu is back on the podium and invites provincial youth chair for Mashonaland West Cde Vengai Musengi to address the gathering.

“We want to thank you President as youths for this opportunity. Our chairman Cde Ziyambi spoke about mining and here in Kadoma and Sanyati we survive on mining. The areas have Exclusive Prospecting Orders  and youths cannot do mining in those areas,”

1518: “Let’s shun the mining of Bhembas (Machetes) especially here in Mash West. As Mash West I am waiting for the youths to come as organised groups to do mining and farming among other activities. Our Government and party cares for us as youths. What we need is to renew and reform in the spirit of new dispensation. Discipline in this regard is paramount,” she says in conclusion

1512: “Thank you youth league for organising this interactive platform between the youths and the President. Our president is a listening President. I want to thank the president for sparing time to be with our youths today. 60 percent of our people are 35 and below and this function is important so as to involve the young people in the country’s economy.

“Our future is underpinned on the youth and you should be actively involved in economic activities. I was excited by the $2 million dollar facility for sanitary wear in the national budget. I want to thank you for appointing young people in Cabinet. The youths lobbied for that and the President listened. The economy cannot be developed by changing money on the streets but by working in fields and mines,” she says

1511: “It’s my pleasure to receive you in Mash West…the province has the history of the famous Chinhoyi battle. We expect our youths of today to be brave like those who fought the Chinhoyi battle,”

1510: Cde Tsenengamu invites Minister of State Cde Mary Mliswa Chikoka to the podium. Mliswa Chikoka starts by acknowledging the President, Politburo members and Cabinet ministers

1507:  Cde Ziyambi says: “I want to thank all that have come to the convention…most of the voters on the voters roll are now youths so we want to thank the youth league for organising this event. In Mash West we survive on farming and mining unfortunately our laws do not support small scale miners.

“The wish of the youths is for us to amend mining laws. The youths have come to show their full support. If they are financially stable our party will be unshakable in the province I thank you.”

1506: Cde Tsenengamu is back on the podium to introduce Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi as the Zanu PF chairman for Mashonaland West province to give the welcome remarks.

1459: “I was asked to introduce members of the Politburo but let me start with Central committee members and since we have our national commissar Cde Matemadanda he will introduce members of the Politburo.”

1458: Cde Tsenengamu says the convention was organised by the national executive of the youth league and calls on Deputy youth league secretary Cde Lewis Matutu to address the gathering.

1451: He introduces Lands Minister Perrance Shiri, Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando as well as Minister of State in Mashonalanf West Cde Mary Mliswa Chikoka

1448: Cde Tsenengamu said the youth league agreed that President Mnangagwa will have two terms. He introduces deputy youth minister Cde Tino Machakaire.

1442: Cde Tsenengamu is now introducing organisations and affiliate groups invited to the convention. Some of the organisations present include Zicosu, Young Nurses Association among others.

1440: Zanu PF youth league commissar Cde Godfrey Tsenengamu is leading the proceedings.

1435: National anthem underway to mark official commencement of the meeting.

1431: President Mnangagwa has arrived at Rimuka Stadium to open the 2019 Zanu PF National Youth Convention. Thousands of party youths had already gathered to welcome the the revolutionary party’s First Secretary and President.