President lights up Lupane

THOUSANDS of ZANU-PF supporters yesterday thronged Somhlolo Stadium in Lupane as the ruling party’s campaign juggernaut continues to draw huge crowds.

President Mnangagwa was guest speaker but other senior ZANU-PF officials that include Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Political Commissar Engelbrecht Rugeje and Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda were in attendance.

The stadium was filled to capacity early in the morning with crowds being entertained with song and dance by Sandra Ndebele and her crew.

The President, who also launched the Command Livestock and Fisheries programme in Jotsholo earlier in the day, arrived at the venue in the afternoon to thunderous applause.

In his address President Mnangagwa narrated how the new dispensation came about in November last year paying special mention to the roles played by Secretary for Adminstration Cde Obert Mpofu and Advocate Mudenda.

“When the Vice President was introducing me he missed something,” said President Mnangagwa.

“When I was a border jumper last year you refused to accept it. Cde Obert Mpofu organised a Central Committee meeting that brought about the new dawn. At that meeting out of the 300 Central Committee members 262 members attended and resolved to expel the G40 members.

“Because of that this is now a clean revolutionary ZANU-PF with committed leadership to the revolution.

“The next decision that was made at that meeting was to reinstate me and you said jump the border again to become Vice President. Meanwhile another revolutionary son from Matabeleland North (Cde Mudenda) chaired Parliament and said the former president (Robert Mugabe) has abandoned his executive powers and we now want to impeach him.”

President Mnangagwa said this eventually led to former president Mugabe’s resignation.

“The former president then resigned in terms of our Constitution. The Speaker demanded that the ruling party nominate a person to take over and I was nominated to take over and as a result of that on November 24 I was sworn in as President,” he said.

The President said he was confirmed as the ruling party’s President and First Secretary at the party’s Extraordinary Congress held in December last year.

“After my inauguration I made a pledge that we will respect the people’s wishes because the voice of the people is the voice of God,” said President Mnangagwa.

He, however, said he would remain respectful of liberation war icons who contributed to the freedom of the country.