By Margaret Kamba
Four ZANU PF officials flew the country's flag high this week when they emerged in the top three of the writing competition conducted by the People’s Republic of China.
The four who are Politburo members Cde Fortune Chasi and Cde Elifasi Mashava as well as Directors Cde Oliver Mandipaka and Dr Clever Marisa were number two and three in a competition which witnessed 125 participants from 43 countries battling it out.
The competition was held on the backdrop of a two weeks leadership training course held at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere School of Leadership in Tanzania. The topics were centered on a new chapter for Africa-China friendship in the new Era and suggestions to deepening the relationship between China and Africa.
Speaking about the issue Politburo member Cde Chasi said they "had a very fruitful two weeks in Tanzania with various papers presented during the conference. As you know, Zimbabwe and China have a longstanding relationship that stretches from the time of our war of liberation when China not only trained our combatants but clothed and armed them to come and prosecute the armed struggle," Cde Chasi said.
"It was a great honor to have been chosen by the ZANU PF Party to attend this conference of liberation parties from across Africa. To have attained the second position in these circumstances is extremely humbling. Moreso, given that a few more of our delegation also made it into the top 15. Not many countries achieved this fit. We lifted the flag of Zimbabwe and ZANU PF very high, and we were certainly very proud of ourselves. Our team was very studious and took the studies very seriously without reference to their status in the Party.
"We are very grateful to the Chinese for this opportunity, and we look forward to increased cooperation between China and Zimbabwe to further cement our relationship. We have a lot to learn from the Chinese path to modernization . My paper dealt with this particular topic and the lessons Zimbabwe and other developing countries can learn learn from the holistic approach to development and modernization . I am grateful to the Party for having sent me on this trip and hope that more and more of our cadres will continue to be so exposed so that our country can progress phenomenally as the Chinese have done."
On his part, Cde Mashava said he "received this award with great pleasure and vigour, it's an award for the people of this great nation and indeed an award for our colossal revolutionary Party, ZANU PF. I dedicate this award to the teachings and aspirations l draw from His Excellency, the President, and the First Secretary of our Revolutionary Party ZANU PF Cde E. D Mnangagwa, who defines the values and ethos of our party ZANU PF," Cde Mashava said.
"My presentation was premised on the political challenges and back drops faced by the former liberation parties against internal self governance. Our desire to reform internal systems and discipline are key to success as well as partipating in the world economy fundamentals. Lack of self esteem drive from Party leadership from all structures, incompetency of cadres as it in calculates indiscipline they by slowly disengaging from the masses brewing uncontrollable inaction and non adherence to the guiding principles of the party. Our liberation parties are to immediately implement strict measures by first adopting a self inspection and criticism and fight corruption towards attaining self internal reforms. Comprehensive and strict governance of the party, corruption, dishonest amongst party leadership, dissection, and cronosim might be a great demise to apolitical party to hold on to power to continue ruling.
"A party must strive to educate and train and orient its members on its core values, constitution, and general rules. Ignorant membership is dangerous and is like a flock without a shepherd. As we continue to modernise and industrialise, it is of paramount importance to identify with the core values of our Party Constitution, which puts everyone to be equally and leaving no one and no place behind. Vision 2030 is set to attain a middle-class income, simplifying that development will reach every corner of our economy, that wealth and country resources are distributed evenly and equally.
"In a nut shell the competition gave me an insight of how to approach and resolve challenges in up holding our part values and aspirations, l pray that such interactions should continue and the former liberation movement's together with CPC can learn from each other as we all share a common ground and are faced with the same enemy of neo colonialism."
Dr. Marisa said, "Let me start by thanking our Servant Leader His Excellency, the President, Cde Dr. E.D Mnangagwa for giving us the opportunity to attend the workshop in Tanzania. Let me say that competing in this essay writing competition was not for winning but for bringing innovation, new levels of insight, and moments of great individual and collective accomplishment. Of course, the competition helps us to clearly understand the Chinese modernisation model and devolution matrix, and this, indeed, allows us to come up with a workable framework to drive our modernisation model towards Vision 2030. By being one of the winners in this competition, I feel very great and this is a clear demonstration that ZANU PF Party has a strategic pool of leaders and members with sharp brains, vast knowledge and experience in political, economic, social and technological thinking."
Cde Mandipaka said, "The training was not only an eye opener, but it was very relevant to the threats faced by liberation movements in Africa from the West and other super powers. For wanting to cement relations with African countries, China taught us that it is ourselves who can alleviate our people from poverty. China is also clear on its ideology, the selection of officers into public offices, and on Party supremacy over the government. I wish that Zimbabwe could also implement this stance."