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President Mugabe greets zanu-pf secretary for Gender and Culture Cde Thokozile Mathuthu on arrival for the revolutionary party’s Politburo meeting in Harare yesterday

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter—
ZANU-PF has scoffed at the manifesto released by former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru on Monday, saying the ruling party would not bother itself with her promises as it was preoccupied with efforts to turnaround the country’s economic fortunes. This comes as the private media, where Dr Mujuru reportedly has 10 percent shareholding in one of the strident tabloids, beat her drum claiming she had “rattled’’ Zanu-PF with her putschist manifesto titled, Blueprint to Unlock Investment and Leverage for Development (BUILD).

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The opposition MDC-T — smelling competition for donor funds with Dr Mujuru’s proposed political outfit — yesterday cried foul accusing Dr Mujuru of plagiarising its policies Agenda for Real Transformation (Art), and JUICE. “In a way, the Mujuru policy blueprint is speaking our language; the document is singing our chorus,” said Mr Obert Gutu, spokesperson of the MDC-T.

“As the MDC, we feel humbled and flattered that the BUILD manifesto largely mirrors what we have already stated in our JUICE and ART policy blueprints.

“They are touching on issues such as respect for property rights, Press freedom, democracy and human rights etc. “They are talking our kind of language; indeed, they are singing our chorus. We are very flattered by that. They also agree with us on the issues of dual citizenship and on the need to revamp and overhaul the indigenisation laws and regulations,”

Speaking to journalists yesterday after the 291st ordinary session of the Zanu-PF Politburo, the revolutionary party’s National Secretary for Administration Cde Ignatius Chombo, said Zanu-PF was unperturbed by the Mujuru project and its manifesto. “That’s no issue to discuss, we have a lot of serious matters to discuss. Former Vice President Mujuru was expelled from this party so why should we waste our time discussing a person that has been expelled from the party?” Cde Chombo said in response to journalist questions.

The former VP released her manifesto on Monday were she outlined her vision premised on reversing gains made in empowering indigenous Zimbabweans. Among the proposals she made was to repeal the indigenisation policy, which has seen many indigenous Zimbabweans entering various sectors of the country’s mainstream economy.

She also proposed a new land reform policy that observers said would result in land being returned to white former commercial farmers at the expense of hundreds of thousands of black Zimbabweans that had become proud owners of arable land since its inception 15 years ago. Over 300 000 households have benefited from the land reform programme meant to correct colonial injustices, while a number of community ownership trusts to ensure citizens benefit from the country’s finite natural resources have also been set up across the country.

Cde Chombo said the Politburo also discussed various issues that included the party’s activities and the state of the economy.

“In view of the upcoming 15th Annual National People’s Conference scheduled for December 2015 (in Victoria Falls), the politburo received reports on the state of preparedness to host this annual policy planning and review forum. The first draft of the conference agenda and the programme were also considered,” he said.

“The meeting further received candid reports on the state of the party in the provinces vis-a-vis mobilisation and restructuring. The ongoing media instigations and provocations of party leadership were recognised as reactionary politics of the opposition and their handlers. The membership was urged to be disciplined, calm and united in the face of the multi-faceted threats faced by the party,” Cde Chombo said.

Cde Chombo said the Politburo also received an update on Zim-Asset and commended progress made in various sectors. “Politburo also received a report on the implementation of Zim-Asset endeavours and policy measures to ensure success in food security, manufacturing and value-addition spheres were applauded. The increase in capacity utilisation and gold production volumes were applauded.

“The beneficiation of gold, diamonds and a roadmap on platinum processing were in place with the mining sector expected to grow by 3,5 percent in 2015,” he said. Cde Chombo added that Zimbabwe had so far received $33 million worth of farming implements from Brazil, while another facility with Belarus was in its final stages of negotiations.

“Resources have been targeted for crops and livestock respectively and 350 000 vulnerable households are expected to benefit from the input support programme this agricultural season. Politburo congratulated Government for the multi-sectoral initiatives currently underway to facilitate foreign direct initiatives noting the return exchange of high level economic delegations which visited the country.

“The meeting appreciated that for Zim-Asset to be a success, it must be driven by people with high level of expertise,” he said. Cde Chombo added that the Politburo urged the education sector to focus on science and technology subjects to ensure the country had requisite skills for development.

The Zanu-PF secretary general said the Politburo also commended Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere for his efforts in normalising the situation at Caledonia settlement in Harare.

The politburo also received a report from the National Disciplinary Committee. “The Politburo also received a detailed report from the National Disciplinary Committee and the party will soon be making a detailed announcement on the resolutions made thereof,” Cde Chombo said.