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Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
Zanu PF chairpersons should summon legislators to Provincial Coordinating Committee meetings and make them explain the projects they are implementing in line with the ruling party’s manifesto, President Mnangagwa has said.

In its 2018 election manifesto, Zanu PF set targets aimed at attaining an economic growth rate of at least six percent per annum over the period 2018-2023, targeting US$5 billion annual foreign direct inflows and $10 billion in domestic investments.

As the ruling party, said President Mnangagwa, Zanu PF had the right to know the work being done by rural and urban local authorities.

This comes in the wake of attempts by MDC-Alliance to detach and supervise operations of urban councils from the central Government.

Addressing thousands of people at a rally in Gutu on Friday, President Mnangagwa said  all governance issues and projects should be guided by the ZANU PF manifesto.

“Rural and urban councils should have developmental programmes. As the ruling party, you have the right to know the work that is being done by the local authorities and their budgets.

“You are the ruling party and we have a manifesto that informs us what we should do. So, local authorities should follow programmes of the ruling Zanu PF party. It is our time to rule whether you like it or not. The chairmen should summon all the MPs to the Provincial Coordinating Committee to present projects that they are working on,” said President Mnangagwa.

President Mnangagwa said devolution funds were now available and Government had declared 2020 the year of productivity.

He said local authorities should come up with developmental programmes beneficial to their communities.

President Mnangagwa said Government had constructed 65 bridges and repaired several roads in Cyclone Idai-hit areas of Chimanimani and Chipinge.

He said while some political parties were still stuck in the past claiming they won the 2018 elections, Zanu PF was already preparing for another resounding victory in 2023.

“We want unity in the country. We want a relationship of non-violence, interaction of non-violence,” said President Mnangagwa.

“We don’t want violence in our country. There is no country that can develop when violence is the order of the day. We cannot agree on everything, but the best ideas should carry the day.

“Don’t say if my idea has not succeeded nothing will move. Rinobuda zuva rigonyurazve. January will come and go, February will come again and go until we reach December while you insist that you won the 2018 elections.

“While you are still stuck in 2018, as Zanu PF we are already focusing on the 2023 elections. We should reflect on the past to see what we have achieved since the last election.”

The rally was attended by several Politburo members, Masvingo Zanu PF provincial leadership and thousands of Zanu PF supporters.