Zanu-PF woos electorate Call to support women candidates
ZANU-PF Women’s League has pledged to regain the respect of the electorate that was lost during the past years due to mistakes made by former president Robert Mugabe.
Speaking at a meeting held in Mutare last Thursday, secretary for administration Cde Monica Mutsvangwa said there was need to be humble and respectful to win over new members.
“In the past, support for Zanu-PF had gone down, especially in rural areas. But under the new dispensation, we need to show people that this is a party that respects people,” she said.
“We might love our party regalia, but there are times when you need to remove it to get into church and pray with the people. There are times when you see that if you chant slogans, people will not be happy. So just be humble and people will see how wonderful your party is.”
She said President Emmerson Mnangagwa had been preaching a message of love and peace across the political divide and as such, the Women’s League was keen to engage the church for spiritual guidance.
“The spiritual element is required if we are to walk together because whoever you pray for does not forget you. Every one of you is a leader, you need to show people your best personality for them to respect you and your party,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.
She said investors preferred to put their money where there was peace, which was all the more reason for women in the province to sow love everywhere.
The President has on numerous occasions declared that Zimbabwe is open for business and promised to implement key reforms that will ensure that the operating environment is conducive for investment. WOMEN must support each other in the forthcoming elections to increase their representation in Parliament because they are better placed to solve problems faced by women all over the country.
Speaking during the first leg of nationwide Women’s League rallies in Mutare last week, ZANU-PF secretary for women’s affairs Cde Mabel Chinomona said women had the power to elect more female leaders, as they constituted the biggest chunk of voters.
“President Emmerson Mngangagwa asked me to look for women who could be appointed to lead in various areas. He wants people who can deliver. Those people are among us here but as women we don’t want to uplift them.
“We need investors and when they come, they should see that Zimbabwe is peaceful, it has people who work together despite their differences,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.
The Women’s League has already embarked on an initiative to recruit new members in the province. To date, the Manicaland Women’s League has held voter education meetings in Makoni, Mutasa, Zimunya and Marange.
Manicaland Women’s League chairperson Cde Happiness Nyakuedzwa said the meetings would continue in all districts.
“We are mobilising women to vote. We have been explaining the new dispensation to people in the remote areas. We are now reaching out to them in their constituencies. We will have four meetings in each constituency, as we continue with Women constitute the largest number of voters but you don’t vote for other women. At the end of the day we then say the President is not appointing women into Cabinet. Let us give those who are capable the chance to represent us, let us put them in those positions that will make them recognisable,” she said.
She said it was sad to note that only three constituencies out of 26 in Manicaland province were being led by women.
Cde Chinomona said if women were elected into office, they would be able to ensure that problems unique to them were quickly resolved.
“A woman knows what happens in the maternity ward. She knows what happens when there is no water and they need to give birth. For the hospital mobilisation at village level,” she said. She said Zanu-PF was targeting 75 percent to get water and electricity, it needs councillors to make those decisions. So how will our clinics make life more comfortable for women when the decision-makers are all men?” she queried.
She urged women to work together and forget past differences that had created divisions within the party.
“What is important is love among us. Don’t love me more than you love each other because I will go back to my constituency. Love the person you live with first. This is where it all starts. You cannot love someone in Mutare but fail to love your neighbour in Nyanga,” said Cde Chinomona.
“If the President could forgive people who tried to poison him, who are you to hate your neighbour who has not done anything to you except being better than you at something?” of the 724 000 registered voters in the province.