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President Mugabe

Harare Bureau
SENIOR Zanu-PF officials who deviate from the party’s vision and principles will be reprimanded, President Mugabe has said.
Addressing hundreds of Zanu-PF supporters who thronged the Harare International Airport on Saturday to welcome him from the 69th United Nations General Assembly, President Mugabe also castigated officials who exalt themselves instead of working for the party.

“Those whom we deem to have deviated from the party’s principles, we will let them know they have deviated, even if they are senior cadres. We will say to them, this is not our path, this is not the party line, you have deviated, come back to the party line, then we will follow you,” said President Mugabe.

He said some senior Zanu-PF officials were using the party for self aggrandisement purposes.

“We do not want those who advance their selfish interests. No. We want to address the people’s concerns. If you as the leader think you are supposed to be placed on a pedestal and be worshipped by the entire party then we say no to that,” said President Mugabe.

“Your lofty position stems from the example you set and whether you work well with others. Do you have intentions of uplifting the party. Do you have intentions of uplifting the lot of the people.

“Party leaders are there to serve the people not themselves. That is where some of our leaders are lacking because they want to look only at themselves. So we are saying that is not the way. The party comes first, you are the servant of the party. Even the President is a servant number one of the party. That’s the party line. That’s our way.”

He urged Zanu-PF Harare province to work hard and reassert its dominance in the capital by repossessing parliamentary seats lost to the opposition MDC-T in the 2013 harmonised elections.

President Mugabe called for unity in Harare province if Zanu-PF was to reclaim the seats from the MDC-T.

He said Harare was strategic to Zanu-PF as the capital city housed its headquarters.

“Zanu-PF Harare province must evaluate the importance of Harare. There must be unity. The party must triumph over other political parties, not to be beaten by the opposition as has happened. Let’s move from the defeat we suffered,” he said.

President Mugabe expressed optimism that the MDC-T’s dominance in Harare would soon end.

“Let’s fight that which impedes us from making Harare province strong again. Let’s find the obstacle and remove it. Anyway, we have hope even though the MDC is still there. We will just say it’s their time but Harare will eventually return to the people where it belongs,” he said.

At the airport to welcome President Mugabe were Vice President Joice Mujuru, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo, Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairperson Cde Amos Midzi and other senior government and Zanu-PF officials.