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Cletus Mushanawani Mash Central Bureau
UNITY of purpose and sharing of responsibilities was the secret behind Zanu-PF’s clean sweep of all the 18 National Assembly seats in Mashonaland Central, Politburo member and Bindura North legislator, Cde Kenneth Musanhi has said.

In an interview in Bindura while basking in the glory of thumping seven other candidates, Cde Musanhi, said their activities as the provincial leadership were well coordinated and there was no undermining of each other’s authority.

“We managed to unite our membership from the grassroots after the primary elections. We were working as a team, sharing responsibilities. The right hand would know what the left hand would be doing.

“As the leadership we were open to each other and would call a spade a spade. Our unity of purpose led us to be the best Zanu-PF province in the country as we swept every seat with very wide margins,” said Cde Musanhi.

He said a lot of lessons were learnt from the just-ended elections.

“Victory is only attained after everyone has time for self-introspection. Our primary elections brought some challenges to the party, but we realised that people should not be fired randomly from the party. Those who erred should be sat down with and re-integrated into the party. There is no room for people with big egos in the party.

“When people are able to bury the hatchet and find each other after a bruising battle, it is political maturity which should be encouraged in the party. Unity is the key driver of success and as the leaders we will continue working with everyone to ensure a more united Zanu-PF as we move forward,” he said.

Cde Musanhi said the elections were the most peaceful in the country’s history since 1980.

“President Mnangagwa opened up the democratic space to everyone. As a country, we have nothing to hide and that is why we invited foreign observers. The polls were peaceful, free and fair, with all the political parties being given the chance to campaign freely.

“Zimbabwe has been under sanctions for a long time and by inviting foreign observers, we were sending a very clear message to the outside world that we are now ready to re-engagement. We want this great nation to move forward and open more opportunities for our people. These elections were also meant to consolidate Zanu-PF’s power base, something which we achieved with distinctions,” he said.

Cde Musanhi said the new Government would be development-orientated, with focus on creating more economic opportunities for citizens especially the youths.

“Gone are the days of politicking. People want to see us delivering and we want to ensure that more positives are achieved during our five-year tenure. Zimbabwe should move forward and we will want everyone to put our shoulders on the wheels.

“As a businessman, I will also use my experience to help change lives in Bindura and Mashonaland Central at large. We should harness all our natural resources and ensure value addition. Our land should be put to good use and all farmers should ensure that they process some of their produce so that they benefit more from them instead of selling them in their raw state.

“We want Zimbabwe to adopt the Rwandese development trajectory and retain its status as Africa’s economic hub,” he said.

On the issue of perennial water challenges affecting Bindura town, Cde Musanhi, said they would soon be working on a long lasting solution.

“We have sunk boreholes in the town as a stop-gap measure, but a lasting solution will be offered soon. A town cannot develop with erratic water supplies. We want to ensure that residents get value for their money through improved service delivery.

“Water availability will see the town attracting more investors, thereby creating more employment opportunities for our residents. We do not want to have more headaches in campaigning for the next elections because people should be satisfied with what we would have offered them in the next five years,” he said.

Although Zanu-PF fared badly in the local authority elections after winning just two seats out of the 12 in Bindura Municipality, Cde Musanhi, said he was prepared to work with the opposition councillors for the development of the town.

“The electioneering season is past us now. We should be able to find each other with the opposition councillors and work together. Success of the town will bring credit to them. We might differ politically, but we were all given a mandate to deliver by the electorate. We should all contribute towards the development of our areas.”

He defeated Takawira Chagweka (PRC), Darleen Chindi (NCA), Taonashe Majaji Chinguruve (ZimFirst), Tongai Kasukuwere (NPF), Agrippah Mutambara (MDC Alliance), Asani Sintala (FMZ) and Chiedza Yakobe (MDC-T).