The opposition ZAPU party chose Plumtree as a launch pad for its 2023 electoral campaign inspired by the collective effort exhibited by rural communities to fundraise for their own community programmes.
The party will soon be unveiling its governance plan anchored on rural districts’ development.
Plumtree communities have regularly made concerted efforts to raise funding for their particular community initiatives.
Addressing party supporters, members of the National Executive Committee and National People’s Council at Dingumuzi Stadium in Plumtree on December 31, ZAPU president, Sibangilizwe Nkomo, confirmed the party was gearing up for the 2023 national elections and would soon be launching its governance blueprint to empower rural districts.
“Our emphasis is on Rural Districts Development and the model is designed to reverse rural-to-urban migration while also providing sustainable development to our neglected rural areas,” he said.
“We will promote agronomy, animal husbandry, tourism and flora and fauna to uplift our rural communities. We will use our natural resources and our rich cultures to attract investment and tourism.”
Nkomo stated that ZAPU was naming their blueprint model the ‘Plumtree Model’ because it was inspired by the town’s locals.
“It is for that reason that we chose this place for our last public event for 2022 and as a launching pad for our 2023 elections campaign,” said the ZAPU leader.
“It is only in Plumtree that our communities have created Village governments where Social services are provided by villagers themselves; the opening of Gwambe Secondary School in 2014, Gomba Primary school in 2015 and the opening of Zimnyama clinic in 2015 and Gambu/Matjinke District hospital in 2022. These are testimonials to your determination and selflessness in improving your livelihoods.”
The ZAPU leader said their gathering in Plumtree was “not an accident” but an “appreciation of the sacrifices the children of the Great Bakalanga Nation have contributed in the evolution and revolution of Zimbabwe.”
Nkomo noted that the national democratic revolution and the fight against the minority government of the late Ian Douglas Smith would not have been completed without the sacrifices of Plumtree villagers.
“Our liberation was watered by Plumtree villagers who provided shelter and safe passage on our way to Botswana enroute to Zambia. When ZPRA came back a fighting force you became the water in which the fish lived and survived. Plumtree you are beautiful, Plumtree wakanaka, Plumtree makathamila Zimbabwe zwibuyanana!” he said.
Nkomo went on to say that even the late patriot Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo took safety in Plumtree during the height of Gukurahundi, finally crossing into neighbouring Botswana.
“Plumtree, do you remember that had it not been for you, our father, President Joshua Nkomo, would have been murdered in March 1983 during Gukurahundi. You protected him until he crossed to the safety of Botswana with bloodthirsty hyenas in hot pursuit with orders from their bosses to kill him and take his head to Harare as a trophy to be displayed,” he said.
“I take this opportunity today to thank you for taking the risk to save Joshua Nkomo’s life who in turn lived to be able to save the lives of innocent people.”
He then appealed to Plumtree to remember the late nationalist by voting his party ZAPU into power.
“Why is it that Zanu continues winning in councils and Members of Parliament (MPs) are Zanu? The time has come to retrace our footsteps back home to ZAPU, time has come for you to vote for ZAPU, you have seen what other parties in power have done but you have not seen what ZAPU is able to do,” Nkomo said.
The ZAPU leader highlighted that Zimbabwe needed an alternative, as the ruling party had failed to transform the country.
“Just recently to celebrate their failures they awarded themselves Christmas bonuses when ordinary citizens are suffering. ZAPU is the alternative and its objective is servant leadership. We would rather provide every village with running water than give MPs champagne on the tap,” Nkomo said.
“We would rather provide medicines in our clinics than give MPs US$40 000 each. If we don’t correct this at the ballot box come 2023, we will have no one to blame but ourselves. If we don’t protest by voting them out in 2023 we stand to suffer more than we have done in the past 43 years of their misrule. As we go back home please tell your neighbour to tell their neighbours to go and register to vote and vote Zanu out of power.”
