Tinotenda Hove – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday declared that ZANU PF’s relationship with the people remains “unbreakable,” as the ruling party wrapped up its 22nd National People’s Conference in Mutare with a firm endorsement of his Vision 2030 agenda.

In his closing address at the Mutare Grounds, Mnangagwa emphasized the need for inclusivity and unity within the party and the nation, saying that development must reach every citizen.

“Comprehensive feedback must ensure that no one is left behind. This is how we must nurture and cement an unbreakable bond between the people and the party,” said the President to applause from delegates.

The conference, themed around economic resilience and national transformation, reaffirmed ZANU PF’s commitment to extending Mnangagwa’s leadership beyond 2028, aligning with resolutions calling for continuity until 2030. Party officials described the move as necessary to “safeguard national progress” under Vision 2030.

However, critics argue that the President’s remarks about unity and inclusivity contradict the lived reality of many Zimbabweans facing economic hardship and political repression. Opposition voices claim that ZANU PF’s so-called bond with the people is maintained through coercion and control rather than genuine consent.

A political commentator based in Harare said, “Mnangagwa speaks of an unbreakable bond, but that bond is being tested by poverty, unemployment, and lack of trust in government institutions. The rhetoric does not match the people’s daily struggles.”

As the Mutare conference closed, ZANU PF projected confidence and stability, while the opposition and civil society remained skeptical — questioning whether the ruling party’s 2030 ambitions are about national development or political survival.