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ZLP reminds the public of original ZANU policy statement of August 1963
Zimbabwe Liberators Platform (ZLP)
October 19, 2003

LEST WE FORGET!!

The following is a policy statement issued by the Original ZANU in 1963. Imagine where the nation would today if the ZANU leadership implemented all the policies enunciated in the historic statement!

Food for thought!!

Zimbabwe African National Union: policy statement. Salisbury, 21 August 1963 

1. The ZANU Declaration of Policy
   Zimbabwe is an African country in the context of an African continent in various stages of the relentless process of overthrowing the yoke of colonialism, imperialism and settlerism. As such Zimbabwe must be considered as participating in this tremendous process of inevitable change.

Therefore its institutions – political, social and economic – must reflect the will of the African people who form over 96 % of the population while at the same time recognizing and respecting the rights and aspirations of the various minorities within its borders.

The Zimbabwe African National Union is a non-racial Union of all the peoples of Zimbabwe who share a common destiny and a common fate believing in the African character of Zimbabwe and democratic rule by the majority regardless of race, colour, creed or tribe.

ZANU, which in the words of its President – Rev Ndabaningi Sithole – ushers in ‘the new politics of confrontation’, seriously intends to confront the voting white minority, the minority-elected government and the British government with a positive programme that can only result in bringing about equal opportunity and full citizenship to every one regardless of the colour of one’s skin, race, religion or sex. 

2. THE ZANU STATE
1. ZANU will establish a nationalist, democratic, socialist and Pan Africanist republic within the fraternity of African States and the British Commonwealth of Nations.
2. The only form of franchise that the ZANU republic will recognise is one based on ‘One man, One vote’.
3. In the organisation of the ZANU state the principles of the rule of law and separation of powers shall be strictly adhered to.
4. The ZANU republic shall be unitary and indivisible state.
5. The ZANU republic shall be based on the principle of non-racialism.



3. ZANU AND CITIZENSHIP
   All people born in Zimbabwe or who have been citizens of Zimbabwe shall be citizens of the republic. Foreigners may qualify for citizenship under conditions prescribed in accordance with the Law of the Republic.
   
   
4. BILLS OF RIGHTS
1. There shall be entrenched in the Constitution of the Republic a Bill of Rights guaranteeing the rights and freedom of every citizen.
2. The Bill of Rights shall have retrospective effect from 12 September 1890.
3. In a ZANU Republic, the judiciary – apart from its normal functions of administering justice, shall test the constitutionality of all legislation.
   
   
5. THE ZANU LAND POLICY
1. All land shall belong to the Zimbabwe nation, and the Government shall merely be the trustee on behalf of the people.
2. The Land Apportionment Act and its corollary – the Land Husbandry Act – shall be repealed and replaced by a new Land Distribution Law.
3. A National Land Board shall be created to effect an equitable redistribution of land.
4. Absentee ownership of land by foreigners shall be forbidden.
5. Owned but unused land shall be declared communal.



6. ZANU AND AGRICULTURE
1. A land bank for the purpose of financing agricultural projects shall be established.
2. For the purpose of improving livestock, and rendering available educational materials to all farmers, a Veterinary Research Agency shall be established.
3. Destocking shall be abolished.
4. Incentive to farmers engaged in intensive Agriculture shall be established throughout the country.
5. In order to increase production, co-operative societies shall be established throughout the country.
6. Serious effort shall be made by the ZANU government to increase the volume of our exports of tobacco, maize, sugar, citrus fruit and other products.
   
   
7. ZANU AND EDUCATION
1. ZANU believes in complete integration of all educational institutions.
2. ZANU believes in free and compulsory education for all children up to Form II.
3. ZANU shall launch an adult and mass education programme to wipe out illiteracy.
4. A ZANU Government shall encourage and assist higher education. A programme of scholarships and loans shall be instituted.
5. A Zimbabwe Institute of Technology shall be established.
6. More Teacher Training Institutions shall be established in order to provide the kindergarten, primary and secondary schools with better qualified teachers.
7. The present Unified African Teaching Service shall be abolished and all teachers shall be part of the civil service establishment.
   
   
8. ZANU AND LABOUR
1. The Industrial Conciliation Act, the Masters and Servants Act and all such industrial and labour laws that discriminate on the basis of colour, shall be repealed.
2. A new labour law that will treat all labour matters without racial discrimination shall be enacted.
3. ZANU will accord legal recognition to all organised and registered labour unions.
4. ZANU Government shall uphold the right of trade Unions to assemble and organise all workers.
5. A ZANU Government will establish a high national minimum wage.
   
   
9. ZANU AND UNEMPLOYMENT
1. A National Employment Bureau shall be set up for the registration of the unemployed and the implementation of a relief fund for the unemployed.
2. Unemployment shall be tackled by the creation of more economic projects which may include:
   (1) communal farms; (2) opening of postal agencies in rural areas; (3) establishment of communal and co-operative societies; (4) housing schemes in rural and urban areas; (5) irrigation projects; (6) national Army.
   
   
10. ZANU AND JUSTICE
1. A ZANU Government shall declare unconditional amnesty for all political prisoners at once.
2. Every citizen of Zimbabwe shall have the option to be tried by or without jury.
3. African courts enforcing African customary law shall be instituted throughout the country.
4. The Zimbabwe law courts shall consist of the lower courts, the High Court and the Supreme Court.
5. The ZANU republican government shall establish the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to replace the BSAP.
6. ZANU shall repeal the Unlawful Organisations Act, the Law and Order Maintenance Act, the Preservation of Constitutional Government Act, Preventive Detention Act, Curatorship Act and all other repressive laws enacted by the white minority Settler-Governments.
   
   
11. PAN-AFRICAN AND FOREIGN POLICY
1. A ZANU Republic shall adopt Pan-Africanism as the foundation of its foreign policy.
2. A ZANU Republic shall seek membership in the Organisation of African States and shall participate fully in all Pan-African Conferences.
3. The liquidation of colonialism, settlerism, neo-colonialism and Imperialism in Africa shall be the major goal of ZANU’s Pan-African policy.
4. In foreign affairs, the policy of positive neutrality and non-alignment shall be pursued with vigilance.
5. ZANU shall participate fully in mankind’s search for a lasting peace through disarmament and freedom from hunger, but it will not seek co-existence between oppressor and oppressed in any country. Co-existence can only be between free people.
   
   
12. ZANU AND DEFENCE
1. A ZANU republic regime will maintain a strong national Army for defence and liberation of Africa from colonialism, settlerism and imperialism.
2. Special inducement will be introduced so as to encourage capable soldiers to pursue military service as a career.
   
   
13. ZANU AND WELFARE AND HOUSING
1. ZANU shall spearhead social schemes for juvenile delinquents.
2. ZANU will introduce a training programme in the arts and skills for all prisoners in order to facilitate their rehabilitation.
3. Creches and child welfare centres shall be established in all places.
4. A training and re-training programme for the unemployed shall be established in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour.
5. A ZANU Government shall establish a Freedom Fighters Council, which shall administer special education and life insurance funds for the dependants of those who died, or were partially or wholly incapacitated in the national struggle for liberation.
6. A ZANU government will ensure that every person has a suitable house in urban or rural areas.
7. ZANU shall repeal ‘The Native Status Determination Act’ and disband the present racial Social Welfare Department.
   
   
14. ZANU AND IMMIGRATION
1. Immigration from overseas shall in principle be prohibited except for technicians and investors.
2. The ZANU Government shall pursue an open-door policy with regard to immigrants from other parts of Africa except South African and Portuguese whites who shall be prohibited.
   
   
15. LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1. The municipal franchise, under a ZANU Government, shall be based on ‘One man, one vote’.
2. The present Local Government Act shall be repealed, and a new one enacted.
3. Chieftainship as an Institution shall be protected by the Constitution.
4. A college for the training of Chiefs and their heirs-apparent shall be established.
   
   
16. ECONOMIC PLANNING
1. Under ZANU government, a Ministry of Economics shall be created and charged with the responsibility of preparing long-range development schemes for every government department, taking into account the economic implications of departmental policies and intended projects.
2. The Ministry of Economics shall study and propose ways and means of raising capital on home and foreign markets for national and economic developments.
3. Private enterprise shall be encouraged as an economic mainstay in the private economic sector.
4. Foreign investment shall be vigorously encouraged.
5. ALL major industries that form the basis of our main economy shall be nationalised.
   
   
17. ZANU AND TRADE AND COMMERCE
1. A ZANU Government shall create a Board of Trade and Commerce to step up the Republic’s trade with the outside world.
2. A favoured nation policy in respect of tariffs and customs in trade with the African sister-states shall be pursued.
   
   
18. POWER AND WATER DEVELOPMENT
1. A ZANU government shall encourage the use of all available electric power for industry, lighting and cooking in urban and rural areas.
2. Irrigation schemes along the major river valleys shall be initiated to improve farming.
3. A ZANU government shall supply water to all villages and communities.
   
   
19. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
1. All railways and passenger aircraft shall be public property.
2. Urban passenger –transport shall fall under Government management.
3. An improved communication system will be maintained.
4. Radio Zimbabwe shall be the national broadcasting system.
5. Tourism shall be encouraged.
   
   
20. YOUTH AND CULTURE
1. A ZANU Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture shall be established.
2. Public youth centres and recreational facilities shall be established in conjunction with the Department of Social Welfare.
3. A National Youth Brigade shall be formed to spearhead voluntary work.
   
   
21. NATIONAL SHRINES AND MONUMENTS
1. A ZANU Regime shall ensure that all ruins, caves and other shrines and monuments are honoured and respected.
2. All statues and other images that symbolise colonialism and settlerism shall be demolished.
   
   
22. NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
1. A ZANU regime shall abolish colonial and imperialist holidays.
2. A National Day of Heroes shall be named and observed in honour of national martyrs such as Dr. Parirenyatwa and others who died for national liberation.
   
   
23. ZANU AND NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY
1. A ZANU government shall attach great importance to the Medical School at the University of Zimbabwe.
2. An inducement consisting in scholarships and allowances as well as better conditions of service upon the completion of training shall be offered to all doctors.
3. More training centres for State Registered Nurses will be established throughout the country.
4. All hospitals, clinics, dispensaries and places of confinement throughout the country shall be open to people of all races.
5. A ZANU government shall establish a new system of mobile clinics that will bring medical treatment and care to all villages and other remote places everyday.
6. The National Health Service will be free for people of all races.

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