Tinotenda Hove – ZANU PF on Tuesday held a ceremony at its party headquarters to honor long-serving staff, a move critics say reflects misplaced priorities as the country grapples with deepening economic and social challenges.

Addressing the gathering, Secretary-General Advocate Jacob F. N. Mudenda thanked President Emmerson D. Mnangagwa for granting permission for the event to take place, a detail that underscored the party’s rigid hierarchy and centralization of authority even in routine internal matters.

Mudenda went on to commend the staff for their dedication and loyalty, admitting that the party cannot function effectively without their expertise and commitment. His remarks appeared to expose an organization heavily dependent on a small group of long-serving employees, raising concerns about stagnation, lack of renewal, and an overreliance on institutional loyalty rather than performance and innovation.

Although he stressed that every staff member is important regardless of position, the ceremony projected an image of a party more focused on self-congratulation than confronting pressing national issues, reinforcing perceptions that ZANU PF continues to reward continuity and compliance while the broader population faces worsening economic hardship and uncertainty.