Zimpapers Logo

incorporated in decision making and national development projects, the party’s national commissar Cde Webster Shamu has said.

He said regular meetings would also help senior party members in debate during meetings at higher party organs such as district, provincial and central committee.
Cde Shamu attended branch inter-cell village conference in Chambara district last week where two branches, Kubatana and Dzikamidzi in Chegutu East constituency jointly held their conferences.
The conferences were being held ahead of Mashonaland West Chinhoyi provincial inter-district conferences to be held at a date to be announced.

According to Section 112 of the party’s constitution, provincial inter-district conference should be held at least twice a year to review party programmes and projects.
The meetings would also discuss any other matter referred to it by the Central Committee.
Cde Shamu said every member, irrespective of whether he holds a provincial, central or politburo post, belonged to a cell, and hence should attend these conferences to hear what people at grassroots were saying.

He said time has come to repudiate the capitalist concept where development only focused on urban areas, neglecting the rural people.
“It’s a capitalist idea that neglects the countryside. Under capitalism, it’s the rule that towns exploit the countryside and the latter lags behind the former. We are saying in Zanu-PF, let’s repudiate that concept and get rid of the backwardness of the countryside left over by our colonisers,” said Cde Shamu.

“That’s the drive or policy that should be embodied within our party.
“This organ of the party (cell) gives you the ability to be informed of the actual needs of the people. It gives you the actual picture of the membership of the party as you interact with them.

“These people are not praise singers, they will tell you exactly what their problems are, that there is siltation, which you can go on the ground to see,” he said.
“We can therefore proffer advice based on empirical evidence obtained from the grassroots. If we do this, it helps in our national economy.”

There is also need for district inter-branch conferences regularly as stipulated by the party’s constitution.
At the Chambara meeting, Cde Shamu, who is also MP for Chegutu East constituency donated 15 bicycles for political commissars in 15 districts from the constituency to enable them to effectively discharge their duties.

At least two commissars – from Toendepi and Chambara – who had performed better than others got extra bicycles for their personal use.
Cde Shamu was accompanied by his wife, Constance, who is also chairperson of the Zanu-PF Women’s league in Chambara district.