VP CGDN Chiwenga pic by Munashe Chokodza in Mutare
By Brenda Mazhambe — Manicaland
Vice President and Second Secretary of the ruling party ZANU PF, General (Retired) Dr. Constantino Chiwenga, has urged party members and the nation to recommit themselves to the principles of honesty, unity, and economic empowerment as Zimbabwe continues its march toward Vision 2030.
Delivering his remarks at the official opening of the 22nd ZANU PF National People’s Conference in Manicaland on Friday, Vice President Chiwenga said the gathering was not just another political event but a moment of “reflection, renewal and recommitment to the timeless values that have carried our revolutionary Party ZANU PF from the liberation struggle to the envisaged future.”
He said convening the conference in Manicaland was profoundly symbolic, given the province’s pivotal role during the liberation war.
“Mutare occupies a sacred place in the liberation story of our country. It was a crucial gateway through which thousands of our brave sons and daughters crossed into Mozambique to wage the struggle for our independence,” said Chiwenga.
The Vice President paid tribute to the freedom fighters who endured extreme hardships and made the ultimate sacrifice for the country’s independence.
“Far too many died nameless deaths in the bush or under aerial bombardment. They perished not in battle, but in hope — believing that their sacrifices would purchase a just, dignified and prosperous Zimbabwe for all,” he said.
Chiwenga described the liberation camps in Mozambique and Zambia as “altars of sacrifice” where courage, pain, and faith merged to form the spirit of freedom. He said those sacrifices placed a moral duty on present and future generations to uphold integrity and national unity.
“The fallen are watching us. Their blood demands integrity. Their voices cry out against corruption, laziness and moral decay,” he warned, drawing applause from the delegates.
He emphasized that the unity and collective spirit that defined the liberation struggle should continue to serve as the moral compass guiding national development.
“Guerrilla warfare was people’s warfare. Every home was either a base, a place to eat, or where clothes were sewn. Every family was part of the revolution. That bond between the Party and the people must remain unbroken,” said Chiwenga.
Turning to the conference theme, “Attainment of Vision 2030 Through Economic Empowerment and Value Addition,” the Vice President said the focus on value addition and empowerment demonstrated ZANU PF’s commitment to building a people-centred economy.
“To build a people-centred economy means empowering every Zimbabwean and ensuring that our national wealth benefits all, not just a privileged few. Economic empowerment must be genuine — equipping all our people with the means to produce, innovate and own their destiny,” he said.
He further reminded delegates that Vision 2030 was not a personal pursuit but a national covenant rooted in the collective sacrifices of the liberation struggle.
“We must always remember that we are not the Alpha and the Omega of Zimbabwe’s journey. Ours is to carry forward the torch passed to us by those who gave everything without expectation of reward,” Chiwenga said.
Invoking the memory of national heroes, he cited the late General Josiah Magama Tongogara as a shining example of dedication and patriotism.
“Some of them, like the late General Tongogara, knew they would not see a liberated Zimbabwe but still fought. They fought for the future, not for themselves. Vision 2030 must be understood in the same light — as a Party and National covenant,” he added.
The Vice President concluded by reaffirming ZANU PF’s commitment to unity, loyalty, and continued progress under the leadership of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. He then invited the President to address the conference.
“ZANU PF stands where it is today because it has travelled a long, demanding journey of vision, unity, sacrifice, love and singleness of purpose,” he said. “It is my distinct honor to invite to the podium His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and First Secretary of ZANU PF, Cde Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, to address us and the nation at large.”
The 22nd ZANU PF National People’s Conference, which has drawn delegates from all provinces, is expected to deliberate on key policy issues focused on economic empowerment, industrialisation, and value addition as the nation intensifies its drive toward achieving an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
