All roads lead to Mash West: President draws line in the sand

Richard Muponde-Zimpapers Politics Hub

ALL roads now lead to Chinhoyi after President Mnangagwa presided over ZANU PF’s 133rd Central Committee meeting in Harare yesterday, declaring an end to resolutions without implementation and setting a results-driven agenda for the party’s 23rd National People’s Conference.

The conference, which began on Monday, October 12, will run until Saturday, October 17, at Chinhoyi University of Technology in Mashonaland West Province.

From Resolutions to Results

President Mnangagwa’s address establishes the standard against which the conference must be judged: not the number of resolutions adopted, but the tangible improvements those decisions deliver to Zimbabweans.

Under the theme, “From Resolutions to Results: Consolidating Economic Development and Deepening Economic Empowerment Towards Vision 2030,” delegates are expected to connect political commitments with measurable development outcomes.

“The era of ‘Resolutions without implementation’ has ended,” declared President Mnangagwa.

The declaration challenges party departments, Government institutions and grassroots structures to translate policy commitments into production, employment, infrastructure development and improved livelihoods.

Resolutions on economic empowerment, industrialisation and modernisation must be accompanied by clear implementation plans, responsible institutions and measurable targets.

Harare Sets the Direction for Chinhoyi

Yesterday’s 133rd Ordinary Session of the Central Committee provided the organisational and strategic framework for the conference.

President Mnangagwa urged members to guide delegates towards the gathering’s objectives, commending the Standing Committees for overseeing party departments and preparing the Central Committee report.

“Ensure that our deliberations are objective and exhaustive; that our Resolutions are forward-looking and capable of propelling Zimbabwe towards Vision 2030,” he said.

The Politburo and Central Committee meetings, therefore, provide the foundation for reviewing organisational performance, identifying shortcomings and establishing priorities for the party’s next phase.

The Central Committee’s responsibility extends beyond endorsing reports. It must ensure that conference deliberations produce practical decisions aligned with national development objectives.

Delegates from all 10 provinces are expected to travel to Chinhoyi today, ahead of the conference’s main proceedings.

Unity, Discipline and Rejection of Factionalism

The President’s demand for results is inseparable from organisational unity and discipline.

Factionalism, regionalism and personal ambitions can divert attention from national priorities, weaken collective responsibility and undermine implementation. Unity, however, should provide room for constructive criticism that strengthens the party and improves decision-making.

“Hatidi mweya waRegioni muMusangano wedu,” President Mnangagwa said.

The warning places the party’s collective interests above narrow loyalties and divisive manoeuvres.

Delegates are expected to demonstrate patriotism, solidarity, peace and hard work, while approaching disagreements maturely. Political discipline should entail respecting agreed decisions and accepting responsibility for their implementation.

The conference must consequently provide a platform for honest assessment and practical solutions rather than competition between personalities or groups.

Grassroots Participation Must Deliver Accountability

The participation of delegates representing the party’s wider structures provides an opportunity to connect national leadership with experiences and concerns from communities.

President Mnangagwa emphasised that broader representation strengthens feedback, incorporates diverse ideas and enhances internal participatory democracy.

“ZANU PF is leaving no one and no place behind,” he emphasised.

The declaration places responsibility on party structures to ensure that development reaches communities across the country.

Rural populations require water, roads, healthcare and productive opportunities, while urban communities need reliable services, employment and infrastructure. Young people and women must also benefit from skills development, enterprise opportunities and meaningful participation in economic activity.

Representation alone, however, cannot guarantee accountability. Delegates must communicate community concerns to the leadership and return home prepared to explain conference decisions.

The President urged them to receive reports and presentations and disseminate their contents throughout grassroots structures.

Chinhoyi Must Leave a Lasting Developmental Legacy

The projects undertaken in and around the host city demonstrate how a national political gathering can generate benefits extending beyond the conference itself.

President Mnangagwa highlighted the upgrading of a water purification plant and the drilling of boreholes at Chinhoyi University of Technology, alongside improvements to water infrastructure that provided more than 3 000 households with new connections.

Ten blocks of student accommodation and staff houses at CUT were refurbished, while the Mining Industry Pension Fund constructed accommodation capable of housing more than 1 000 students.

These investments support education, institutional capacity and community welfare. Their significance, however, depends on sustained maintenance, reliable services and continued accessibility. Infrastructure must remain functional long after delegates leave Chinhoyi.

The President also announced that Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital would unveil a new solar power plant and medical oxygen facility constructed with assistance from international partners.

These projects demonstrate the importance of cooperation between Government institutions, development partners and other stakeholders in strengthening essential services. Reliable electricity and medical oxygen can improve healthcare delivery, particularly where facilities face power interruptions and shortages of essential supplies.

Vision 2030 Requires Productive Economic Transformation

Industrialisation, modernisation and economic empowerment must occupy the centre of the conference deliberations.

Zimbabwe’s development ambitions require increased production, agricultural productivity, value addition, technological advancement and stronger domestic industrial capacity.

Resolutions must therefore address practical obstacles affecting businesses, farmers, workers and emerging entrepreneurs. Expanding production without reliable infrastructure, affordable financing and accessible markets will remain difficult. Equally, economic empowerment must be assessed through meaningful participation in productive sectors, sustainable employment and improved incomes.

President Mnangagwa’s emphasis on implementation establishes a demanding benchmark for the party’s economic programme. Departments must demonstrate how their proposals contribute to national productivity and development rather than simply listing activities.

The President also thanked party members and well-wishers who contributed towards hosting the conference, reporting that contributions from Central Committee and Politburo members approached US$80 000.

The mobilisation demonstrated collective commitment to the gathering, but responsible administration and transparency remain essential to ensuring that resources are used for their intended purposes.

Chinhoyi’s Verdict Will Be Measured by Results

The conference must renew ZANU PF’s connection with communities through practical service delivery. Its success will depend on delegates confronting shortcomings, adopting implementable resolutions and establishing mechanisms to monitor progress after the gathering closes.

“Pamberi neZANU PF. Pamberi nekubatana. Pamberi neGwara remusangano,” declared President Mnangagwa.

His closing message reinforced unity, collective responsibility and commitment to the party’s chosen direction.

Yet the ultimate test will be whether these principles translate into measurable development outcomes.

Yesterday’s Central Committee meeting set the political and organisational direction. Today’s journey to Chinhoyi marks the transition towards the conference’s main proceedings, followed by the presidential keynote address and substantive deliberations tomorrow and Saturday.

All roads now lead to Chinhoyi, where the conference must move beyond declarations and establish a credible pathway towards Vision 2030.

Its legacy will depend not on the resolutions adopted, but on whether Zimbabweans experience stronger production, better services, wider economic opportunities and tangible improvements in their quality of life.

Source: All roads lead to Mash West: President draws line in the sand – herald

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