Staff Reporter

ZANU PF Vice President General (RTD) Constantino Chiwega has called for a brutal and honest self-appraisal within the ruling party, declaring that ZANU PF belongs to the people and never to individuals.

Delivering his remarks to introduce Guest of Honour President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the 23rd National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi, Chiwenga said the party must move beyond deliberations to tangible results.

He said this year’s theme, “From Resolutions to Results: Consolidating Economic Development and Deepening Empowerment Towards Vision 2030,” calls upon the party to deliver measurable and transformative outcomes that improve people’s lives.

Chiwenga said Chinhoyi is a landscape deeply connected to the liberation struggle, recalling the Chinhoyi Battle of 28 April 1966 when seven ZANLA heroes paid the ultimate price a few kilometres from the venue.

“Their sacrifice was, and is an indispensable bedrock of Zimbabwe’s independence, freedom and sovereignty,” he said.

The Vice President said while last year’s conference in Mutare reflected on values of unity, discipline and patriotism, this year’s gathering must interrogate whether resolutions truly come from the people.

“Chii chakaita kuti 2nd Republic ivepo? Kwaive kugadzirisa zvakaipa zvanga zvichiitika mumashure, hatisi kudzokorora here kuita zvakambotadzwa? This beckons us to a brutal and honest self-appraisal,” Chiwenga said.

“We must ask ourselves the difficult questions and confront uncomfortable realities. Are our resolutions truly coming from the people? Do our conferences authentically capture the voices of the grassroots?”

Chiwenga stressed that the strength of ZANU PF has always emanated from the people and that the principle of Gutsaruzhinji must remain central.

“Our Party is a People’s Party, forged through the sweat, toil and blood of the masses. Our Party belongs to the People, never to individuals. We must listen to them attentively,” he said.

He warned against individualism, saying while change is inevitable, it must be orderly, anchored in party structures and guided by the constitution.

“Change must be driven by the people not imposed from above. The voice of the people is the voice of God,” he said, quoting President Mnangagwa.

“Mazvake mazvake haana kwaanotisvitsa. They undermine our collective purpose and cannot deliver the unity required for sustainable progress,” Chiwenga added, quoting Chairman Mao that individual desires outside the collective are meaningless.

He said leaders are merely temporary custodians of the vanguard party and must leave a legacy of service.

“We are here to serve the people, never to be served by them. The younger generation is watching our conduct with sharp attention,” Chiwenga said.

He said Vision 2030 must consolidate economic development and make Zimbabweans proud citizens, “not hewers of wood and drawers of water, surviving from the benevolence of a privileged few.”