The ruling party will not stand idle as opposition
activists promote anarchy but will respond appropriately to any threats to the
country’s peace, ZANU PF acting spokesman Cde Patrick Chinamasa has said.
On Friday, President Mnangagwa, who is the ruling party’s
First Secretary, also warned
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that are dabbling in politics that
they risk being de-registered.
Political activists and those aligned to the opposition
have been fanning anti-Government sentiment, particularly on social media
platforms, calling for protests.
Briefing journalists after the 341st Ordinary Session of
the Zanu PF Politburo in Harare on Friday, Cde Chinamasa said the ruling party
will not allow a repeat of the August 1, 2018 and January 2019 violence that
was designed to destabilise the country.
The revolutionary party, he said, would not brook threats
against a constitutionally-elected Government.
“We have noted statements from some social media platforms
to plan and organise violent protests and overthrow a constitutionally-elected
Government.
“Let me say to (MDC Alliance leader Nelson) Chamisa and
those who are calling for demonstrations on July 31 that what happened
protesting on August 1, 2018 and January 2019 will not happen again. We want to
send this warning loud and clear to Chamisa that whatever you are threatening
on July 31, we say, come to the front and face the risk.”
He added: “Those who are plotting anarchy should know that
ZANU PF is not sleeping. This time we are ready and we will not allow a repeat
of what happened before.”
He said the Politburo had received a report on plans by the
opposition to organise violent demonstrations.
“Those doing so must stand warned and the law will not
hesitate to deal with those. Our democracy and rule of law is very clear on how
a Government is constituted. The meeting advised those planning to sneak
themselves into Government violently through the back-door to desist from such
devious agendas because they will have themselves to blame.”
In his address, President Mnangagwa warned foreign
embassies overstepping their mandate through clandestinely lending support to
the opposition.
“Civil society organisations must stick to the functions
and roles for which they were registered. Those who deviate from their mandates
will attract de-registration,” the President said.
“Some of our guests of the State, our foreign embassies,
are reminded that Zimbabwe is an independent and sovereign nation. They are
once again dissuaded from interfering in our internal affairs and should stop
forthwith funding of the destabilisation activities.”
Government, President Mnangagwa said, was alert to labour
movements that were hiding behind workers’ grievances to drive political
agendas.
“I urge those who purport to represent workers to do just
that. It is a one-way traffic lane. Political ambitions and views belong to
another lane. Choose the lane you walk on. Those in politics must seek the
mandate of the people every five years, through the ballot box. That is the
constitutional way, that is the rule of law way, that is the democratic way,”
he said.
Cde Chinamasa, who is also ZANU PF’s secretary for finance,
said Government, through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce led by Dr Sekai
Nzenza, would leverage on the recently unveiled $18 billion stimulus package to
support enterprises grappling with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
“She (Dr Nzenza) reported that her ministry is doing an
impact assessment to determine how many companies and industries have been
affected, with 17 percent of enterprises having closed temporarily. The
ministry is taking advantage of the stimulus package provided by the
President.”
The ruling party is confident that the recently introduced
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe foreign currency auction system will stabilise the
economy.
“We believe that overtime, we will get to a point where
there will be an equilibrium in terms of the stability of the exchange rate.
Eventually we believe that this will lead to a stability in prices.”
Party members are presently being rallied to play an active
role in contributing to productive programmes such as the Pfumvudza initiative
in agriculture.
“Politburo also commended programmes such as Pfumvudza for
productivity by people with minimal resources, such as communal farmers.
“We are very happy that this programme is working well. We
have stimulated our structures to participate fully in this programme.
Awareness is being raised by our structures such as the Women’s League and the
Youth League.”
The party also noted the rampant cases of corruption
happening in the local councils, especially those controlled by the opposition.
Sunday Mail
0 comments:
Post a Comment