by Grace Chekai
ZANU PF Acting Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Patrick Chinamasa said that the party was using the resources it had to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the absence of relief funds which was` were blocked by MDC-Alliance vice president, Tendai Biti.
Speaking at a ZANU PF weekly brief yesterday, Chinamasa said, “The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a major blow to the nation and the globe at large. Detractors had prophesied doom but the nation under the able leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been containing the situation and managing well to the extent that Zimbabwe has only lost 261 to date compared to thousands that other nations have lost.
“The party continues to fight COVID-19 with its own resources even though detractors like Tendai Biti have written to the World Bank to deny Zimbabwe COVID-19 relief funds. It’s interesting to note that the World Bank chose to listen to an unpatriotic nonentity and not the nation, which is a member of the World Bank.”
Cde Chinamasa said ZANU PF party applauded President Mnangagwa for implementing a Pan-African economic plan, the National Development Strategy (NDS I), which will run up to 2025. He added that the strategy resonated with the party`s manifesto, for instance on Human Capital Development and Social Protection of the marginalized.
He said the NDS1 would take Zimbabwe to an upper middle income economy.
“The National Development Strategy 1 will enable economic development towards Vision 2030.With this strategy, we will do a lot including creating over 760 000 jobs as well as accelerate value addition and it will benefit the Agriculture and Mining sectors.
“The ZANU PF party observes that a lot should be done to attain vision 2030. For instance, we must decentralize the NDS1 to all provinces and have reports after every six months as this will go a long way in fighting sanctions and shame detractors,” said Chinamasa.
He said that ZANU PF would keep a stern eye on all the ministries to ensure that the implementation of NDS1 was effected and that it will not hesitate to name and shame those sleeping on the job.
Cde Chinamasa said jobs had been created in the mining and agriculture sector adding that ZANU PF calls for massive investment in Sports and Arts.
Cde Chinamasa applauded ZANU PF party for tackling a thorny issue of Gukurahundi, which could not even be spoken of as it was considered a taboo.
“The President has handled the subject and made it clear it should be debated upon as we seek solutions,” he said.
He also mentioned that the party and the nation was indebted to the War Veterans for what they did and what they will do in future in safeguarding the legacy of the struggle.
