Choose the right leaders: ED

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has said he will not tolerate imposition of candidates in the forthcoming elections and urged Zanu-PF supporters to choose leaders who work with the people.

Addressing a crowd of supporters who had gathered at Mutare Aerodrome to see him off last Friday after he commissioned the $40 million Willowton plant, President Mnangagwa said people had every right to choose leaders of their choice.

“As we approach the elections, I want people to know that we have agreed with the party leaders that there will be no imposition of candidates. People should choose who they want to lead them. From district level, anyone who is willing can get into Parliament, Senate or even into Cabinet,” he said.

“But we want you the electorate, to choose that person,” he said.

“Ini ndaramba, nemiwo murambe. Munoita zvamunoda, munhu wamunovimba naye wamunoona kuti anodzoka kuvanhu, anotaura nevanhu. Ndozvatavakuda. (I say no to this, you should too. You should do what you want, chose someone you trust, someone you know will come back to you with feedback, someone who understands you. That is what we are looking for.)”

He said leaders were servants of the people; as such, they should always do what the people want, adding that those leaders who do not submit to the masses do not deserve to represent the people.

“If we do that (submit to the electorate), our leaders will stay in office because they would be serving the people. They will also grow,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said information should flow from top to bottom in an orderly manner. He urged supporters to be united and avoid violence.

“Chikuru kubatana nekuwirirana. No violence. Isu muZanu-PF hapana chipolitical party chatinotya, tichahwina sekugara tichingohwinha kwatanga tichiita,” he said.

(The most important thing is unity and love. No violence. We in Zanu-PF,

are not afraid of any political party. We will win, like we have always done.)

President Mnangagwa said his Government was concerned with developing the country into a middle-income

economy in the next 12 years.

“Government will create policies that make it easy for the poor to work and improve their lives.

“We will also put in place policies that allow capable people as a result he is the chief executive of the Republic of Zimbabwe. I cannot deviate from that as a legislator,” said Mr Mliswa.

“It is because he has come up and has certainly brought in something which was lacking. He listens to the people. He is able to talk to everyone.

“He is meeting everybody across the political divide.

“I am an independent Member of Parliament and I chair a Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy, which is supposed to be chaired by somebody from a political party. That goes to say how much he is willing to get everybody involved in terms of the governance of the country regardless of which party you belong.

“It is the first in Zimbabwe Parliament were an independent Member of Parliament chairs a Portfolio Committee of Mines and Energy, which is something is which supposed to go to a party.”

Mr Mliswa repeated that he was not rejoining ZANU-PF.

“No I think I support the President in his ways and I think you do not have to belong to a party to support the good governance of any leader. It is about leadership. It is about the right things being done,” he said.

“What we want is democracy at its best and for the country to move forward from the former President Mugabe’s dispensation where we were isolated.

“We were in a container which he felt like opening whenever he felt like it and Zimbabweans have learnt their lessons . . .”

Mr Mliswa urged President Mnangagwa to ruthlessly deal with corruption.

to be elevated on merit,” he said.

Willowton manufactures cooking oil and soap and there are plans to venture into candles, margarine and rice production.