By A Correspondent -What ZANU PF allies have praised as “people-centric leadership” has been dismissed by critics as a cosmetic public relations exercise designed to sanitise the image of controversial businessman and politician Scott Sakupwanya.

The criticism follows a Facebook post by ZANU PF online activist Cleopas Mukungunugwa, who claimed Sakupwanya was engaging communities during the party’s National Cell Day programme in Mabvuku.
“People-centric leadership in action. Today Hon. P. Sakupwanya was in Mabvuku participating in the ZANU PF National Cell Day programme, directly engaging with communities and listening to first-hand concerns and feedback from the grassroots,” Mukungunugwa wrote.

He further claimed the initiative was aimed at “strengthening cell structures through intensified membership recruitment, as well as verification and updating of the party database,” before boldly declaring, “this is why ZANU PF always stays in power.”

However, critics argue the visit was less about listening to citizens and more about party mobilisation and image management. They say ordinary residents continue to face poverty, poor service delivery and unemployment, issues that cannot be solved through what they describe as choreographed walkabouts and social media posts.

Political observers also questioned the sincerity of Sakupwanya’s outreach, noting that ZANU PF’s cell programmes often prioritise loyalty checks and database updates over addressing real socio-economic problems affecting communities.

“To present this as people-centred leadership is misleading,” one critic said. “It is about consolidating party structures, not improving people’s lives.”

Despite the glowing praise from party activists, Sakupwanya’s Mabvuku appearance has reignited debate over whether ZANU PF’s grassroots programmes are genuine platforms for citizen engagement or simply tools to maintain political control.