Nqobizwe Thebe
ZANU PF has officially announced a new directive requiring all its members across various leadership structures to pay their annual subscription fees as a once-off payment. This was outlined in a circular issued by the party’s Matabeleland North Provincial Headquarters and signed by Provincial Secretary for Finance, Stars Mathe.
The policy marks a change from previous practices, streamlining the party’s financial obligations by standardizing an upfront annual payment. According to the circular titled “Once-Off Payment of Subscriptions for the Whole Year,” all members of the ruling party—from Politburo officials down to grassroots district-level members—are now mandated to make a single annual payment in either United States Dollars (USD) or the equivalent value in Zimbabwe Gold (ZWG).
The circular breaks down the subscription fee structure by leadership level. Politburo members are now expected to pay $240 per annum, which amounts to $20 per month, while members of the Central Committee are set to pay $120 annually. Other categories, including members of the National Consultative Assembly, National Executive Council deputies, Provincial Executive Councils, District Coordinating Committees, and all members at the district level and below, are required to pay varying annual fees ranging from $5 to $1.
“All Party Members are now required to pay subscriptions as a once off payment for the whole year,” reads the circular. The directive emphasizes the importance of regular financial reporting, stating that “the Province is now required to submit monthly updates on all members who have paid,” with District Coordinating Committees (DCCs) also responsible for monthly updates to the province.
To ensure financial transparency and accountability, the party has designated specific bank accounts for payments. Members are instructed to deposit subscription fees into either the ZIG (Zimbabwe Gold) account or the Nostro USD account, both held with CBZ Bank at the Kwame Nkrumah branch in Harare. The circular further requires that proof of payment be submitted promptly to the Provincial Headquarters for reconciliation purposes.
This new policy appears aimed at bolstering internal financial discipline and enhancing administrative efficiency within ZANU PF, Zimbabwe’s longstanding ruling party. While the circular does not elaborate on enforcement mechanisms or penalties for non-compliance, it signals a tightening of party financial protocols ahead of what could be a critical political calendar.
As the party apparatus begins implementing the policy, it remains to be seen how effectively the changes will be adopted across all provinces and whether this centralization of party funding will yield its intended administrative benefits.
