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Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
ZANU-PF Secretary for Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Dr Mike Bimha has said the party has so far registered 3,6 million members as it continues on its membership drive targeting five million people.

Addressing the Midlands Provincial Inter-District Conference held at the Zanu-PF Winery Convention Centre on Saturday, Cde Bimha said he was glad to note that the party’s cell restructuring exercise was progressing well with more than 72 000 cells established so                                                                                              far.

He said the restructuring exercise is being done at cell, district and provincial  levels.

“We are through with cells but as you know that’s an ongoing process. We now have more than 72 000 cells and  more than 3,6 million members in our party. We have a target of five million votes and there is therefore, a need to continue selling the brand Zanu-PF,” he  said.

Cde Bimha said the membership drive should translate to votes for President Mnangagwa in the 2023 presidential elections.

“It means we have 3,6 million votes and we are left with 1,4 million members if we are targeting five million votes. We however need to have more than five million votes to be guaranteed a landslide victory come elections,” he said.
Cde Bimha said from today until next Sunday the party will be conducting district elections.

“The district elections shall be conducted by secret ballot in order to achieve fair representation across the branches.

The positions of district chairpersons will be voted by three wings of the party (main, women and youth),” he said.
Cde Bimha said party members should be on the ground selling the revised policy on economic empowerment which was approved by the joint sitting of the Central Committee and Politburo last year.

“We have been to Bulawayo province where we held a meeting with the provincial coordinating committee and members of the business community. Today (Saturday) we are in the Midlands province. We need awareness and training on the revised policy. It assists us to know about our party and also attracts other people to the party. Brand Zanu-PF must be known all over as we have empowerment programmes for the women, youth and everyone,” he said.

Cde Bimha said there were reports of vote buying in some provinces ahead of provincial elections.
He said in the Midlands and Mashonaland West provinces there were allegations of name dropping, tribalism, regionalism and money was alleged to be changing hands.

“It is disturbing to learn that some party members are approaching potential voters offering money to be voted which is against our party Constitution,” he said.

Cde Bimha said there was no room for tribalism and factionalism in the ruling party.

“We are saying there should be no imposition of candidates and no name dropping to intimidate voters. We must be wary of people claiming they have been asked to stand by His Excellency because there is nothing like that,” he said.
Cde Bimha said those that want to contest the provincial elections should only start campaigning after the dates for the elections have been announced.

He said the provincial elections will be held before the 19th National People’s Conference to be held virtually from October 25 to October 31.

A few party members, including the party’s leaders will meet in Mashonaland Central at Bindura University of Science Education.