‘Strategise for elections’

President Mugabe, who is also the Head of   State and Government and Commander-in-Chief  of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, said it was   sad that the constitution-making process continued             to be stalled by MDC formations that were afraid   of defeat in the elections.
“It is sad that this much awaited referendum on the proposed draft constitution, which must pave way for elections and should have been completed by now, continues to be stalled, if not forestalled, by our adversaries who do not seem to want to see their new found comforts under the inclusive Government overturned by motions of democracy,” he said.

“There is fear of defeat now dictating their stances. Shame, shame, shame! Elections have to come soon this coming year.
“The GNU has become a drag on our nation. This conference must send a clear message that elections must be held early next year without fail. It must also make it clear that Zanu-PF reserves the right to disassociate itself from a draft constitution which seeks to undermine the cardinal goals of our national liberation struggle and our national culture and values.”

President Mugabe said the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act must empower the previously marginalised communities, create employment opportunities for the youths and give a real stake to workers who have all along been undermined by racial settler capitalism.

He also said the new policy would also provide economic opportunities for women.
“Through indigenisation and economic empowerment, we thus seek to unleash new production and social relations, which transform us from being a mere powerless working class people into a sovereign owning nation with undisputed real equitable control over our natural resources, industry and commerce. We thus fully become people who are fully independent,” he said.
He urged delegates to take advantage of the conference to come up with actionable measures through which people could be mobilised to consolidate and defend national sovereignty through the empowerment drive.
President Mugabe said the indigenisation programme was a new battle cry after the successful land reform programme made black people owners of their land.

“When the land and socio-economic empowerment stand together, they will inevitably constitute a formidable response and veritable resistance to the illegal sanctions,” he said.
President Mugabe said the need to prioritise the defence of the country’s sovereignty was an urgent issue when taken in consideration of the wanton lawlessness in the international relations.

He made reference to the disturbances in Iraq, Afghanistan, Cote d’Ivoire and of late Libya as bitter case studies of how the Western countries were bent on destroying small nations in order to exploit their resources.
President Mugabe bemoaned the demise of continental and regional bodies, including the African Union, who have become hapless bystanders or silent supporters of Western aggression against fellow member states instead of defending them.

He condemned political violence and urged party members to shun it at all costs.
He said Zanu-PF was a party of ideas and people-oriented policies that continued to shape the country.
“We are rooted in the ideology that won us independence. This is what gives our policies and programmes an unassailable place in the politics of our country. The ideas and ideals behind these policies and programmes in their transformative form must remain our prime tools of mass persuasion and mass mobilisation. Violence should always be anathema!” said President Mugabe.
He also called on Zimbabweans to remain united.

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