By Aldridge Dzvene
In a commanding address to the media at its Harare headquarters, the ruling ZANU PF party reasserted its ideological primacy and economic stewardship, boldly declaring Zimbabwe as “the most golden economy in Southern Africa.” The press conference, marked by confidence, calculated symbolism, and strategic political messaging, brought journalists face-to-face with what party spokespersons described as the “permanent revolution” under the First Secretary of ZANU PF and President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency, Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
The setting itself was not neutral, it was deliberate. Framed as the centre of revolutionary consciousness, the ZANU PF Headquarters was described as the place where President Mnangagwa presides, strategizes, and executes transformative policies that have shaped the country’s new economic and political posture. Far from being a routine media engagement, the press conference became a platform to remind Zimbabweans, the region, and the world, that the legacy of the liberation war had matured into a vision for economic sovereignty.
With language rich in symbolism and conviction, ZANU PF officials portrayed the President as more than a national leader, they presented him as a political engineer, reshaping Zimbabwe’s trajectory through bold macroeconomic reforms, investment in infrastructure, and unwavering defense of national interests. “This is where the revolution lives,” one official stated, “and where decisions are made not out of convenience, but out of generational duty.”
Throughout the briefing, there was a strong sense of continuity, a deliberate linking of the liberation struggle with present-day governance. The party emphasized that Zimbabwe’s economic advancement was not a coincidence, but the result of hard-earned peace, sovereign policy direction, and resistance to economic sabotage. The narrative was not shy of confronting criticism, but it did so with calculated defiance, challenging media narratives that portray the country through the lens of collapse and instead pushing forward a message of industrial growth, agricultural revitalization, and regional influence.
The term “golden economy” was not used lightly. It was reinforced with references to mining expansion, energy independence, and massive infrastructure projects such as road networks, dams, and power stations. Officials argued that despite sanctions, Zimbabwe has remained resilient, innovative, and attractive to alternative investment streams, particularly from China, Russia, and fellow African nations.
Beyond economics, the press conference served as a reminder of political dominance. ZANU PF expressed confidence in its grassroots structures, national appeal, and its ability to shape narratives both locally and internationally. The tone was not just defensive, but assertive, a firm reminder that power in Zimbabwe is not inherited by media popularity or Western alignment, but earned through history, discipline, and national service.
Importantly, the media was both engaged and subtly challenged. ZANU PF called on journalists to report with balance, patriotic integrity, and awareness of the country’s revolutionary context. “You, the media, are not just recorders of the moment, you are participants in the national journey,” said one of the spokespersons, in a statement that drew applause from some quarters and raised eyebrows in others.
In the end, the press conference left no doubt , ZANU PF is not retreating into political silence or ideological uncertainty. It is actively reclaiming the narrative space, asserting that Zimbabwe is not only surviving but thriving, and that under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, the country is not simply moving forward, but doing so with revolutionary purpose.
The message was unambiguous, Zimbabwe’s revolution is not over, it has evolved. The golden economy is not a metaphor; it is a mission. And the headquarters of ZANU PF remains the furnace where policy, identity, and national direction continue to be forged.
