President Mnangagwa Opens 22nd ZANU PF National People’s Conference with a Call for Unity, Discipline

Mutare – The 22nd ZANU PF National People’s Conference was officially opened earlier today at Mutare Polytechnic by the President and First Secretary of the Party, His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, in a ceremony that brought together the top leadership of the ruling party, thousands of delegates, and invited guests from across the nation.

The President was accompanied by members of the ZANU PF Presidium—Vice Presidents Hon. General (Rtd.) Dr. Constantino Dominic Guvheya Nyikadzino Chiwenga, Hon. Col. (Rtd.) Kembo Campbell Dugish Mohadi, the National Chairperson Hon. Oppah Chamu Zvipange Muchinguri-Kashiri and the Secretary General Hon. Adv. JFN Mudenda.

Proceedings ran with precision and decorum, reflecting the party’s emphasis on unity and order.

The National Chairperson opened the ceremony before handing over the honor of introducing the President to Vice President Chiwenga, whose rich and reflective introduction set a solemn yet energetic tone for the day.

After the President’s address, Vice President Mohadi delivered a heartfelt vote of thanks, rounding off an event that many described as both inspiring and grounding.

In his keynote address, President Mnangagwa reaffirmed ZANU PF’s commitment to building “a sustainable, people-centered development model” through discipline, patience, and steady progress.

He reminded delegates that nation-building is not an overnight event, but a process that demands persistence and collective effort.

“Sustainable, people-centred development and prosperity can never be a ‘Big Bang’,” said the President. “We are a nation on the rise. Systematically, orderly, and through a disciplined approach; we are building the Zimbabwe we want; brick by brick, and stone upon stone.”

The Head of State underscored that his government’s ongoing empowerment programmes are aimed at ensuring that no one and no place is left behind, as Zimbabwe advances towards its Vision 2030 goals of becoming an upper middle-income economy.

“Our youth and women must make money here, in the free and independent land of our birth,” he declared. “In agriculture, mining, manufacturing, ICTs, and tourism, among other sectors, the young people are emerging as masters of their own destinies.”

He commended the resilience and creativity of Zimbabweans across all walks of life, acknowledging that the nation’s progress rests on the industriousness of its citizens and the discipline of its institutions.

Turning to internal party matters, President Mnangagwa celebrated ZANU PF’s organizational resilience, describing it as a party “with a sound ideology, clear structures, and revolutionary principles that do not change with the winds of self-interest.”

He warned, however, that corruption, tribalism, and regionalism must never be allowed to take root within the party, labeling them “cancerous to the ongoing national development agenda.”

“Corruption of any kind has no place among the rank and file of the Party membership,” he said emphatically. “Excesses, wanton acts of commission and omission for corrupt ends, risk alienating the Party from the masses and must be expunged from our body politic.”

Citing his 2018 remarks at the 17th National People’s Conference in Esigodini, the President reminded delegates that honesty, transparency, discipline, and selflessness remain the enduring values of the party.

“That position still holds,” he said. “It remains the correct Party line.”

In another key segment of his address, President Mnangagwa defended Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and warned against those who spread falsehoods about the country for political or personal gain.

“Our country is not for sale,” he said. “Spreading false information, denigrating one’s country, the leadership, and people can never be good for our national pride, image and dignity.”

He reaffirmed that Zimbabwe is a constitutional democracy, with robust institutions that uphold peace and unity, and vowed to remain steadfast in defending the nation’s independence and heritage.

“Under my leadership, ZANU PF will remain vigilant and not waiver in safeguarding, defending and promoting our unity, peace, democracy, independence, and sovereignty,” said the President. “We shall never betray the fallen heroes and heroines who paid for the Zimbabwe we now enjoy with their dear lives.”

Looking ahead, President Mnangagwa urged the Conference to deliberate with “unity of purpose” and to strengthen the party’s mobilization efforts ahead of the next Harmonised General Elections.

He challenged delegates to ensure that the Women’s League, Youth League, and Veterans League continue to grow in visibility and influence, while expanding recruitment to bring new members into the fold.

“Let us carry on recruiting and welcoming new members from all walks of life and harness the diverse skills of the membership for the ultimate good of our revolutionary movement,” he said.

The President reiterated the guiding national philosophy, “Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa nevene vayo / Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe ngabanikazi balo,” emphasizing that development and governance must remain in the hands of Zimbabweans themselves.

“Through this philosophy, we must safeguard our dignity and identity as truly independent Zimbabwean and African people,” he said, drawing loud applause from the packed auditorium.

The President also tabled the Central Committee Report, detailing the progress made by the party’s various departments. The report highlighted ZANU PF’s continued modernization, grassroots empowerment initiatives, and regional engagements with progressive movements across Africa and the Global South.

“The Departments of the Party are more robust, in line with the expectations of the membership and generality of Zimbabweans,” he said. “In all programmes undertaken in the period under review, no one and no place is being left behind.”

President Mnangagwa paid tribute to Zimbabwe’s allies and friends who continue to stand in solidarity with the country amid ongoing illegal sanctions and global challenges such as climate change.

“We are doing our part towards promoting the values of Pan-Africanism, unity, justice, peace, security, and sustainable development for all,” he said.

As he concluded his remarks, President Mnangagwa called for unity among Zimbabweans from all regions, saying the bonds that tie the nation together are “unbreakable.”

“The bonds that cement all of us, from Zambezi to Limpopo and Mutare to Plumtree, are unbreakable. We are a united, peaceful, unitary, and indivisible great nation of Zimbabwe,” he said.

In his closing rallying cry, the President reaffirmed the revolutionary spirit that continues to drive the party and the nation forward:

“Pamberi neZANU PF. Pamberi nekubatana. Pamberi negwara remusangano. Phambili leZANU PF. Phambili lokubambana. Viva ZANU PF, Viva ZANU PF. Pasi nemhandu. God bless you all. God bless Zimbabwe.”

The 22nd ZANU PF National People’s Conference continues in Mutare, with various committees set to deliberate on the President’s address, the Central Committee Report, and policy resolutions expected to guide both the party and government in the coming year.