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Fungi Kwaramba-Political Editor

FOR years now, Zimbabwe has been groaning rather breathless under the yoke of illegal economic sanctions that sought, by dint of strangulation, to suffocate the masses so that they could gasp for air and in desperation call for foreign intervention to remove the Zanu PF Government, which the West sought and even now tries to portray as the devil incarnate.

But then Zimbabweans are all the wiser, after all they carry with pride the status of being the most educated persons on the continent, hardworking and doggedly determined, they are a valorous nation who fought for their independence, even against a better armed adversary, who enjoyed support from the Western nations.

The latest episode when Zimbabweans yet again demonstrated to the world, the Western world in particular, that they do not brook interference was in the 2023 harmonised elections, symbolically held in the month of August.

August is that month on the country’s calendar when the nation celebrates its liberators, most of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice to free Zimbabwe from the bond of colonialism, a bond that persist to date in the form of illegal sanctions, a neo-colonialism and neo-liberalism concept that seek to extent the Western world hegemonic stronghold on sovereign nations like Zimbabwe.

It is trite that Zanu PF stream-rolled the Western world and its local Trojan horses in the August 23 harmonised elections, dealing a seemingly deathly blow to the hopes of the Europeans and Americans to sneak their puppets into State House, or the corridors of power through the creation of government of national unity.

I say deathly blow because as of now, the opposition in the country is on its deathbed due to bloodletting factional fights that have so far claimed the scalps of 15 MPs and several more councillors.

More CCC MPs are living at the mercy of the gun-slinging Sengezo Tshabangu, the party’s interim secretary-general, who mirthfully is unknown to the equally self-proclaimed CCC leader Mr Nelson Chamisa.

That is a brief background that shows that within the country’s borders there is only one serious political party, Zanu PF, that is organised enough to take Zimbabweans to the Promised Land, a land that the Western world believed Zimbabwe will never see.

This is the land which is now so close to reality, thanks to a cocktail of interventions that were made by the Second Republic under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, who has turned lemons into lemonade, adversity into opportunity and despair into hope.

As it were, last week Zimbabwe and the rest of the progressive world that is breaking away from the hypocritical Western hegemony and grip, commemorated the SADC-Anti Sanctions Day and during the same week the country witnessed the organisational brilliance of Zanu PF on display at its annual conference held in the historic city of Gweru.

Because of the new path being charted by President Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe commemorated the Anti-Sanctions Day, not as victims but victors, having been fortified and inspired by President Mnangagwa’s “Yes We Can” mentality that is epitomised by his philosophy “Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo”.

At the Conference, the President said after years of stunted growth due to the debilitating effects of the economic sanctions, Zimbabwe cannot afford to undertake its national development programmes at a snail’s pace, but must sharpen its strategies to accelerate the implementation of people-oriented development.

He said to leapfrog the country’s development, the country under Zanu PF must continue to deliver solution-based leadership by embracing modernisation and industrialisation through optimum exploitation of the country’s resources like minerals for the benefit of the general person.

Although the country has been groaning under the burden of unjustified and illegal economic sanctions for over two decades now, the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa has turned the country’s fortunes for the better through inward looking.

“The ever-changing socio-economic and political challenges, together with the illegal sanctions on our country should never discourage us. 

“We must defend and consolidate the notable achievements of our great country, in honour of the departed heroes of our country, some of whom never lived to see our hard-won independence, freedom, and democracy,” he said.

“As such, this Conference is not business as usual. We must re-examine ourselves, build on our Party’s strength, address our weaknesses, and sharpen strategies to accelerate the implementation of our people-centred development policies, projects, and programmes.”

In the spirit of development, the Conference was held under the theme “Towards Vision 2030, through Devolution, Industrialisation, and Modernisation” providing a platform for the united family of Zanu PF from its various structures to take stoke and proffer solutions to the Government in the true sense of the party’s supremacy.

“The theme and composition of this 20th National People’s Conference compels us all to thoroughly consider and proffer pro-people policies,” said President Mnangagwa.

“As Zimbabweans, we cannot afford to undertake our national development programmes at a snail pace. Our country has already been robbed of time for development due to the 23 years of sanctions. We must never bury our heads in the sand.

“Let us, therefore, continue to guarantee successes in agriculture and food security, mining, manufacturing and tourism, among other sectors. The last five years have shown what we can achieve as a people, when we are peaceful, united and hard-working.” 

Zimbabwe, which a few years ago used to be an importer of cereals is now, for the first time in over two decades, exporting to neighbouring countries following a raft of interventions by the Second Republic like agriculture mechanisation which led to successive bumper harvests.

In the mining sector, the country has already met its target to become a US$12 billion mining industry by 2025, and the President said despite this life-changing milestone the ruling party will continue pushing for value addition, beneficiation as well as support for small-scale miners so that Zimbabweans realise maximum benefits from their God-given natural resources.

There is, therefore, every reason for Zimbabweans to believe again as the development by President Mnangagwa is there for everyone to see, it is not just mere rhetoric, but a systematic approach guided by science and measurable in key deliverables that have seen the economy registering sustained growth.

Already, the President, whose Government has introduced life-changing programmes through the construction of roads and dams, in every part of the country, in the spirit of “leaving no one and no place behind” achieved milestones that have confounded even the country’s fiercest critics.

Still, President Mnangagwa said there is more work ahead in the journey to transform Zimbabwe, towards its Vision to become an upper-middle-class economy.

“Particular emphasis is being placed on the empowerment of women and the youth as they are critical to the realisation of the country’s vision,” he said.

“As such, the Party ensured the inclusion of a 30 percent women’s quota in Local Authorities and 10 Youth Members of Parliament in the National Assembly. 

“This new reality must translate into more inclusive policies and programmes that advance the needs and concerns of women and the young.

“Zanu PF is walking the talk and leaving no one and no place behind in governance systems. Our country’s development and governance systems.”