‘So far so good’ – Zanu-PF Cde Gumbo
rugare gumbo

Cde Rugare Gumbo

It is a few days before the first anniversary of July 31, 2013 elections in which Zanu-PF handed the opposition MDC parties a crushing defeat. Many things have happened since, with Zanu-PF having to contend with its internal issues and the economy, as a singular party in Government. Is Zanu-PF feeling any heat in light of these pressing issues? Party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo (RG), responds in an interview with our Senior Political Writer Tichaona Zindoga (TZ). Here are the excerpts:

TZ: One year after the victory in last year’s elections, how do you look back as a party?
RG: We feel that 2013 particularly July 31 was a watershed in the history of Zimbabwe. We held elections under the new constitution which is a significant factor in the history of our country. The other element which is critical in the elections of 2013, July, is that we ushered in a new government of Zanu-PF and did away with the GNU. Our party now, Zanu-PF, is able to work out its programmes, its policies and direction without the constraints of the opposition political parties. We have two thirds majority so we can pass any legislation without looking back and checking who is behind us.

So we are very happy about that not only that but we also came up with a blueprint, Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset). We are extremely happy that we have a framework to guide us in what we are doing. We are not doing things in a haphazard manner as we did during the GNU.

We have a clear direction as to where we are going. We have the four clusters, that is, food security, nutrition, social services and eradication/reduction of poverty; we have infrastructural development, utilities; we have value addition and so on.

Those clusters define how we operate. Those who are in food security know that agriculture is the backbone and that people who were given land have to produce. That is the bottom line. They have to produce in order to ensure food security and nutrition. We are very sure that in that area we are doing reasonably well. We are not going to import maize from outside, according to the minister of agriculture. So that is very, very important.

We are also working on the social service sector, yes, the water issue in Harare and other areas of Zimbabwe is a major problem but it’s being looked into, it’s being rectified and with the improvement of water supply from our major dams things should be able to take off without much ado.

Infrastructure – that is an area which is being looked at very, very carefully. For instance, the construction of various roads, here in Harare, Harare airport to town we can see a lot of work, take Plumtree-Bulawayo road there is a lot of work taking place.

Take that road, you know you will be delayed for hours because there is work that is being done. We look at Victoria Falls for instance; Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airport, there is a lot of work. People have to visit to see what is happening there. It’s a major international airport.

There is, Matabeleland North, there is Shangani-Gwayi Dam, being done by the Chinese. There is methane gas mining which we understand is starting to operate very soon. So there is a lot being done in the area of infrastructure development. The energy sector, we have Kariba South being done. There are small areas where they are contemplating production of electricity in some of these small dams, gorges or whatever it is.

We are very pleased that these things are taking place. Then there is the final thing which is value addition of our products which is critical. Because we have been selling things in their raw form which does not give us any returns at all. But if value-add our products and export them as finished goods they fetch more money, they become more competitive in the market. So that is being done.

Then there is industry, there is this Zisco project which is also taking place. The Ministry of Industry has said that the Indians are coming back in force so again we appreciate the renovation of Zisco Steel and we hope that this will create jobs. In all the areas that I have talked about, there is the element of job creation, you know, we may not have the statistics but there is job creation.

We are accused of saying that we were going to create two million jobs. Yes, but we are going to create two million jobs in five years. We didn’t say when we took over that we were going to create jobs there and then. It’s a process. So we are very happy that we will being creating jobs in these areas. We are happy with the progress that we have made in 2013. The first year comes to an end next week and we can look back and say we really did something.

TZ: But are you not feeling the heat; the economy is not doing quite good, of course amid calls by the opposition for your party to deliver on electoral promises?
RG: No, not at all. There is no heat at all. If anything, it’s quite cool up there. Some talk of people getting poorer and poorer which is not correct. It’s absolutely not correct. Yes, we have tight liquidity conditions as a result of the fact that we are not able service our loans. You get loans but you are not able to service them. Obviously, if we do not service these loans money becomes tight; there is no way you can give what you don’t have. So that is what is creating all these problems.

It’s not that there is no money in Zimbabwe. There is plenty of money. Look at the cars that are there, look at the construction of houses – money is there but people are not in the first place banking. They are hoarding. And if you are keeping money in your house, in your ceiling, there can’t be money in the market. So our people have to learn to save, to bank. And the banks also have the responsibility to give back to people what they have invested, or what they have saved. But money is there. There is plenty of money in Zimbabwe.

Whether you like it or not it’s there but it’s just that we are not channeling it in the proper way. Once we create an environment which ensures that whatever you have you have got you get something back, there is no problem.

I agree with President Mugabe when he says the economy is showing signs of recovery. I have spoken to the RBZ governor Dr Mangundya and he assured me that things are moving in the right direction, the financial sector is performing reasonably well, the banks are in sound condition, they could perform better.

TZ: This juncture also appears to be very critical for Zanu-PF as the party heads towards congress. What state of preparations are you at in terms of the forthcoming congress?
RG: Well, we are having, first of all, youth conference and women’s conference. The youth conference runs from 7 to 8 August. Preparations are in place and soon after we go to the congress in December and it will be held here in Harare at HICC. So in terms of preparation, everything is in place, everything is on course.

TZ: And maybe you could touch on the forthcoming youth conferences, it’s just a couple of weeks away. What have been the preparations like? We are hearing reports that with only a few days to go, not much on the ground in terms of campaigning has taken off.
RG: Yes, I am sure you are aware, Zindoga, that we had problems in terms of rules and regulations. They came out very late and now this weekend, most provincial coordinating committees are meeting to work on the modalities of the election or selection processes for the youth as well as the women’s league.

So it will be not fair for me to say what is likely to happen but the important thing is that we will be going through these processes and hopefully if we can finish this week or next week people can present their names which should be looked at by the national elective directorate and once they can campaign maybe two days, three days before the election.

TZ: But are you giving room for a delay or something in the holding of the elections now that as you are saying, there may be two days to campaign?
RG: No, we had not looked at that at all but it’s something that can be done. I don’t think our rules are cast in stone or the dates for the elections are cast in stone. They were just suggested tentatively.

TZ: It would seem that the Zanu-PF Youth League is not as vibrant say, as the ANC equivalent in South Africa; what is your assessment of the current youths within the party?
RG: People must learn to build on what they have. We may not have as vibrant youth movement as was the case in South Africa under Julius Malema and others. But we do have a fairly strong youth movement and what is there is obviously to try to build the youths on the basis of competence, performance and so on.

Sometimes, we tend to be a little bit subjective in terms of recommending certain people to lead in the Youth League. People who may have no experience and never led any organisation, whether branch or district are catapulted to a top position when they are not even ready. The other thing is siding with certain top leaders and you are catapulted to the top and yet, really you know nothing and you don’t even have the necessary skills and competence to do that. So those are the things that we have to guard against.

TZ: But besides that, there is the issue of Cde Sikhosana. What is the rationale of having someone possibly your age leading youngsters? The question is, are we going to see any change?
RG: I don’t know what is going to happen at the conference but what I am aware of is that we need someone who is experienced, who has been in the Youth League for some time, who can guide the young ones. It may not be Sikhosana but definitely we want someone who is experienced. The secretary of youth is appointed by the President. It’s not an elective post just like information and so on. So there might be need for someone experienced but the deputy going below, it’s elective, elected by the people.

TZ: If I may take you back to the ANC Youth League, it is assertive and almost semi-autonomous. Can that apply to the Zanu-PF Youth League?
RG: It can’t apply in the sense that our pattern and our methodology are different from the ANC. Our youths are sort of linked to the party. They are controlled by the Politburo.

TZ: And then another issue which has been of interest to people out there – the issue of the filling of the posts of second vice president and national chairman. Is there a clear mechanism or policy on this?
RG: Yes, it’s clear. The vice president is decided based on the Unity Accord of 1987. In that Unity Accord it was decided that the vice president of the party will come from what was formerly Zapu. And it has been like that. First we had Msika as vice president, then John Landa Nkomo. Now it’s vacant. The next person perhaps will come from Zapu and that is that. That is in black and white, you see.

We can’t have the vice president and second vice president coming from Mashonaland. Then there is the issue of the chairman. Again in 1987, there was an understanding that perhaps the national chairman should come from Zapu. Msika became the first national chairman, followed by John Landa Nkomo, again from Zapu and currently we have S.K. Moyo but it’s an understanding, it’s a consensus which was developed. It is not in black and white.

TZ: So the chairman’s post is a gentlemen’s agreement?
RG: It’s a gentleman’s agreement, based on consensus.

TZ: There have been some complaints say about the election guidelines and how they are perceived to sideline younger and newer members. How do you in Zanu-PF balance the need for stability and the need for renewal and continuity?
RG: Renewal and continuity will always be there, we can’t be there forever. We are aging. We pass on and new forces will come in. It doesn’t mean to say if you say 15 years or so that is the end of the whole thing. There will always be people coming into the party, given opportunities to rise. And it is the responsibility of the party to try and mould and groom young people to take over but they have to do it properly not just jumping the gun and all of a sudden, you have not been in the province, in the district and all of a sudden you want to become a member of the central committee. What is that? In any case, what contribution are you going to make if you don’t know the rules and regulations of the party, if you don’t know the values and orientation of the party. What are you going do? Just to mess up the party.

 

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