ZANU PF Mashonaland East provincial chairman Biggie Joel Matiza has challenged the party’s leadership in Goromonzi South to unite to reclaim the seat that was lost to the MDC-Alliance in the 2018 harmonised elections.
Zanu PF candidate and former Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Petronella Kagonye was defeated by Mr Reuben Chikudo of the MDC-Alliance in the constituency.
Kagonye polled 18 821, while Mr Chikudo managed 34 243 votes.
Matiza was speaking at a meeting held at Caledonia and organised by the provincial Zanu PF youth executive members for the provincial leadership to assess the state of the party in the constituency.
The youth raised several concerns such as the state of the party, lack of co-ordination in terms of food distribution to vulnerable families, lack of empowerment projects for the youths and delays in the allocation of land to the youth.
The Goromonzi South leadership was accused of failing to work with the youth to strengthen the party in the area.
The youth appealed to senior party leadership to regularise the allocation of stands at Melfort, which are meant to benefit the constituency’s youths.
The meeting was organised by the provincial youth league secretary for education, Cde Ndichatsiva Rogers Pote.
Addressing party members at Tongovile Primary School in Caledonia, Cde Matiza said the party will put up proper structures and restore the party to its glory days in Goromonzi South.
He said there was need for discipline among party members to ensure that they reclaimed the seat in the next election.
“We cannot watch the party sinking, while serving the interests of a few individuals,” said Matiza.
“The party is bigger than an individual. Discipline in the party is all that we want.
“If there is a gap, we become weak in Parliament because of this. I have heard the issue of land barons and weak leadership in this area. We are going to look into that and ensure unity prevails for the good of the party.”
Turning, to youth empowerment projects in the area, Cde Matiza promised to work with the relevant authorities to ensure projects were regularised.-State media
