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Zimbabwe: Presidential Hopefuls Must Have a Party
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
21 March 2008
Posted to the web 21 March 2008
Harare
Government will soon enact legislation that will make it compulsory for presidential candidates to have the backing of a particular political party, as some politicians, that include independent presidential aspirant Simba Makoni, were taking advantage of such loopholes to divide votes.
Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at a rally at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera yesterday, President Mugabe said there were flaws in the current legislation with regard to candidates who wanted to stand in a presidential election.
"In the next elections we will say one must have a party. Tinoti vanhu ngavauye vakapfeka zvakanakawo pamutambo wakadayi. Kupfeka kwandiri kutaura ndiko kwokunge wasarudza party yaunomirira," he said to the applause from the floor.
Cde Mugabe urged those who had lost in the ruling party's primary elections to work with the winners for Zanu-PF to score a resounding victory in next Saturday's harmonised polls.
The President said Western countries, that included Britain and Australia, were continuing to fund the MDC in their efforts for regime change but this was all in vain.
He urged people to vote for Zanu-PF, saying it was a tried and tested party, which represented the interests of the majority.
"Zanu-PF is there as the custodian and caretaker of the legacy of our people," Cde Mugabe said.
Despite the economic problems in the country, the Government would continue empowering people through the farm mechanisation programme and self-help projects.
The enactment of the Indigenous Empowerment Bill would also go a long way in promoting the participation of indigenous people in the mining sector, he said.
The Government, Cde Mugabe said, was making funds available to the health sector to boost the health delivery system.
Turning to some of the problems that were being faced by Marondera residents, he said the construction of Wenimbi Dam should be completed urgently for the town to have reliable water supply.
President Mugabe said the Government had bought generators that were capable of powering towns like Marondera as a way of solving power cuts that were affecting some industries.
Earlier, during a briefing with the provincial leadership, Cde Mugabe said there was need to revive some of the companies in the town, that included the Cold Storage Company, as such companies created downstream employment.
Commenting on the distribution of food countrywide, he said this was being hampered by the poor road network and the Government had provided funds to the District Development Fund for road maintenance.
Government was also concerned that it was taking 10 or more years to work on some of the major roads, adding that particular roads should be targeted at a time before starting new ones.
Mashonaland East Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Ray Kaukonde said the ruling party would win in all the constituencies in the province although there was need to campaign vigorously in Marondera where the opposition had embarked on a door-to-door campaign.
In his vote of thanks, Chief Svosve paid tribute to the Government for distributing food to the people.
Earlier at another rally in Chikomba, President Mugabe said Zimbabweans should reflect on their history as they cast votes on March 29 so that they do not betray all the heroes and heroines who laid down their lives to liberate Zimbabwe.
Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at his penultimate star rally in Mashonaland East Province held at Masasa Secondary School in Chikomba
Central, Cde Mugabe dismissed opposition candidates Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai as British stooges.
"Tirikuenda musi wa29 kunovhota, tovhota tichiziva kuti kwatakabva ndokuku. Tine ropa rakadeuka, tine nhaka yemadzitateguru kubva kunanaMbuya Nehanda ikoko. Vose madzishe vakafira rusununguko, nevakanga vainehushe munyika muno, mumatunhu akasiyana-siyana, vose ava vanoti kwatiri nhasi uno, chengetedzai nhaka yenyu, ndochikwama chiye chamanga muchiimba, chikwama, chichengetedzwe ichocho. Hunhu hwedu hurambe huripo, kuzvitonga kurambe kuripo," Cde Mugabe said to applause and ululation from the crowd.
He chronicled the history behind the MDC, which was formed when the three British parties -- Labour, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats -- pooled their resources under the aegis of the Westminster Fund for Democracy to launch the MDC on a ZCTU platform.
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This, he said, was done in the hope that the MDC would safeguard the interests of white commercial farmers and British concerns in Zimbabwe at the expense of the black majority.
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This shows how much pinch Mr Mugabe is feeling due to the challenge from Simba. I'm sure now he will admit the 'frog' has successifully inflated itself to a hippo! One would expect a person in the respectable position of president to know that times are changing. He will be the first to admit (in his heart of hearts) he has failed to run the country. If you keep blaming foreigners for bullying you one wonders if you deserve to represent the people of Zimbabwe in that high office or just retire to village headmanship. Zanu PF failure... [Read Full Text]
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