Transcript of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s address to the Zanu PF annual conference in Chinhoyi on October 16, 2026:
The Chinhoyi Battle of April 28, 1966, marked a turning point in igniting the armed struggle against colonial rule. With boundless pride and solemn reverence, we remember the seven ZANLA heroes who fought with fearless distinction and paid the ultimate price just a few kilometers from this venue.
Their sacrifice was, and remains, an indispensable foundation of Zimbabwe’s independence, freedom, and sovereignty.
Comrades and friends, last year, when we convened in Mutare, we reflected on the values that sustained our liberation struggle: unity, discipline, patriotism, integrity, commitment, and service.
The theme this year is “From Resolutions to Results: Consolidating Economic Development and Deepening Economic Empowerment Towards Vision 2030.”
This theme calls upon us to move beyond deliberations and declarations towards tangible, measurable, and transformative outcomes that improve the lives of our people.
Let us not forget that the Second Republic was founded on the pursuit of renewal, reform, results-based governance, and national development. That promise imposes upon us an enduring obligation to deliver results that exceed all past achievements.
Chii chakaita kuti Second Republic ivepo? Kwaive kugadzirisa zvakaipa zvanga zchichiitika kumashure. Hatisi kudzokorora here kuita zvatakambotadza? Ndomubvunzo watinofanira kuzvivunza. (What led to the emergence of the Second Republic? It emerged from correcting the rot that was prevailing. Are we not repeating the same mistakes? That is the question we should be asking ourselves).
This challenges us to a brutal and honest self-appraisal. We must ask ourselves the difficult questions: Are our resolutions truly coming from the people? Do we truly understand the aspirations of our people? More importantly, how should we walk our talk this time around to serve our people better?
The strength of Zanu PF emanates from the people. Our party is the people’s party, forged through the sweat and blood of our people. Our party belongs to the people, never to individuals.
We must listen to them attentively, for they are the ones who trusted us with this mandate. We must be willing to introspect, engage, and accept criticism when confronted with diverse viewpoints. In the same vein, we must face contradictions constructively. This guiding principle must remain central to our collective comprehension and empowerment.
We must continually measure whether our programs, born from our revolution, are genuinely lifting livelihoods, addressing community needs, and generating sustainable value across the nation. The true value of a resolution lies entirely in its substance, implementation, and tangible impact on the lives of the people we represent and serve. This is the essence of Vision 2030.
Distinguished guests and delegates, change is inevitable. It must be orderly, engaged through our party structures, and guided by our constitution.
Change must be driven by the people, not imposed from above. You may recall, Your Excellency, that the voice of the people is the voice of God. As such, we must remain true to that promise and carry with us the voice of the people.
Discipline, accountability, and selfless service must define our trajectory, superseding disjointed or individualistic approaches.
Chairman Mao said, and I quote: “Individual desires or private virtues are meaningless outside their relationship to the collective. They undermine our collective purpose and cannot deliver the unity required for sustainable progress.”
As we deliberate at this momentous conference, we must remember that we are merely temporary custodians of this vanguard party. Our time on earth is finite, and we must therefore ask ourselves: What legacy are we leaving behind?
We are here to serve the people, never to be served by them.
The younger generation is watching our conduct closely. Our words must find full expression in our actions. We must place service above personal ambition and strive to leave Zanu PF stronger than we found it.
Our collective resolve to attain Vision 2030 must be to consolidate economic development, uplift the living standards of the people, and make them proud citizens of this country, not hewers of wood and drawers of water surviving on the benevolence of the privileged few.
(Transcript by Ntuthuko Zinondo, ZimLive)
Source: Transcript: Address by vice president Contantino Chiwenga to Zanu PF conference – Zimbabwe News Now
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