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Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has warned people who put on Zanu-PF regalia but then go on to deviate from the principles the revolutionary party stands for through indiscipline such as disrespect of leadership, especially at public events.

He said Zanu-PF values discipline as a cornerstone of its survival and everyone was duty bound to uphold discipline.

ZANU-PF

President Mnangagwa said this on Monday at an interactive meeting with editors from the public and private media at State House.

The President made the remarks after being asked on the apparent disrespectful conduct shown by some Zanu-PF supporters and some members of the public, who sometimes seek to denigrate the party leadership, particularly the Presidium at national events such as burials of national heroes at the National Heroes Acre.

“I am so happy; this is the vibrancy of democracy. The foolish and the wise both have their day. I think those who really are Zanu-PF at heart go by the rules and decorum of Zanu-PF,” he said.

“We have other people who are in Zanu-PF, who in themselves are not Zanu-PF, but they dress in Zanu-PF regalia, so you must always see when people talk and see which camp they belong to when they open their mouths,” said President Mnangagwa.

Turning to political developments on the globe, President Mnangagwa said the decision by the United States administration led by President Donald Trump to impose sanctions against South Africa for its policy to embark on land reform would not affect the region, but would galvanise Pretoria and the region as a whole to work hard.

“I can assure you that those who impose sanctions on other countries should have learnt a lesson. Zimbabwe’s growth was faster when we were under sanctions than before sanctions.

“So, if you want an economy to grow faster, impose sanctions. So, we are a good lesson, we have developed and grew our economy under sanctions and I do not think that South Africa would be an exception.

“South Africa is a solid country with a solid economy based on its resources and I have belief that the people of South Africa are rooted in South Africa themselves. The outside world can only assist what the South Africans themselves can do for their country. So do not lose sleep about people imposing sanctions on others,” said President Mnangagwa.

With respect to the anxiety among Zimbabweans on the country’s ability to respond to health emergencies particularly road accidents, after pictures of cardboard boxes used by health officials to support and stabilise fractures, went viral on social media, President Mnangagwa said it was a wake-up call.

“That was a sad situation when I saw it. We must make sure we correct that. I saw it in the media. I am happy that the media exposed such weaknesses, so we must address that immediately,” said President Mnangagwa.

The pictures circulated after the accident which killed 25 people when an Urban Connect intercity bus and an Auro Transport commercial truck collided head-on, 21km north of Beitbridge Town last Thursday. Government declared the accident a state of disaster and assisted to bury the victims.

There was huge debate among social media users, with some saying it was a bad indictment for the country’s health sector while others argued that it was normal in emergencies to use cardboard boxes to prevent further injury and stabilise fractures while transporting a patient to the hospital.

During the interaction, some editors asked if the Government was considering constructing more referral hospitals to improve the health delivery system.

The editors said Government seemed to have focused more on education as evidenced by the number of State universities in all provinces since independence, but the situation was not the same in the health sector.

President Mnangagwa said while the observation might be noble, it was up to the responsible Government Ministry to make recommendations for more facilities should it become necessary.

“I am not really aware of that urgent need but my Minister responsible for that sector has the mandate to demand from the Government of what he thinks is needed to expand the facilities,” said President Mnangagwa.

On the efforts being pursued to resolve the country’s debt arrears, the President said there will eventually be a reflection on achievements made, given that African Development Bank (AfDB) president, Dr Akinwumi Adesina’s term at the bank was coming to an end this year.

THE African Development Bank

Dr Adesina is the Champion of Zimbabwe’s arrears clearance and debt resolution process while former Mozambican President Joachim Chissano is the high level facilitator.

“We are still in that process; our facilitator is still engaged in that process. Everything possible is being done and we shall know what achievement we will have at the end of his term and we will pick it from there,” said President Mnangagwa.