Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
PREPARATIONS for the Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference, which is scheduled for Gweru in the Midlands Province from October 27 to 28 are nearly done with 80 percent of the projected work now complete.
The ruling party’s annual indaba will be held at the Midlands Zanu-PF Convention Centre, some 13km east of Gweru along Mvuma Road.
The conference will reflect on the party’s achievements, the state of the party, the economy, food security and nutrition, social services, and poverty eradication. It will also deliberate on macro-economic stability and re-engagement, infrastructure development and utilities, as well as value addition and beneficiation.
It will take stock of the party’s performance in the just-ended elections, which Zanu-PF won after defeating all opposition parties.
The National People’s Conference is hosted by provinces on a rotational basis and presents a chance for reflection on party electoral promises as well as reaffirmation of the country’s vision.
Yesterday afternoon, the national organising committee led by the party’s national chairperson Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri toured the Midlands Zanu-PF Convention Centre accompanied by the Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Mike Bimha and the party’s treasurer-general Cde Patrick Chinamasa.
Addressing the provincial organising committee and other party officials Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri applauded the local organising committee for working within the set deadlines.
“We are 80 percent ready to host the conference and I want to applaud you Team Midlands for working together and demonstrating your leadership qualities,” she said.
The revolutionary party’s national chairperson said the fact that Midlands was the only province with a conference centre speaks volumes about their organisational capabilities.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said Zanu-PF was once again demonstrating its constitutionalism by holding this year’s conference.
“We are the ruling party, which has a constitution that dictates programmes we should do. We hold elections, as dictated by the constitution unlike other parties that do not even have constitutions. We also observe the national constitution and that is why we win elections,” she said.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said Zanu-PF does not leave anything to chance and would certainly host a successful conference.
“We (national organising committee) are all here to address all the nitty gritties, the gaps and also progress done,” she said.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri implored the provincial organising committee to make sure that the venue was ready by October 27. She said the party has a Politburo meeting this Tuesday, which will be preceded by a central committee meeting before the conference starts on Friday.
“We expect to get reports and resolutions from the provinces as well as from the Government on areas that have been achieved so far,” she said.
Zanu-PF Midlands provincial chairperson Cde Larry Mavima said they had addressed a number of issues including the state of the conference centre. He said they were confident that they will be through with the refurbishment before the end of the week.
“As Midlands, we will manage to host a memorable conference and all I can say is that we are indeed ready,” said Cde Mavima.
Delegates are expected to start arriving in Gweru on October 26.
The Zanu-PF province has managed to secure accommodation for delegates at the Midlands State University (MSU) as well as Mkoba Teachers’ College. Some of the delegates will be housed in local hotels and some accommodation has been secured in Kwekwe and Zvishavane.
The construction of the giant Convention Centre was influenced by the then Defence Minister and now President, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa in preparation for the Zanu-PF 2012 Conference.
The project was built in a record time of three months at a cost of US$2 million.
Most of the structures at the site are circular in shape taking after the Great Enclosure of Great Zimbabwe, with bricks at the centre replicating the granite stones of the historical site, making it a big tourist attraction.
The 5 000-seater facility can also be used for wedding receptions, seminars, exhibitions, entertainment shows, and other events.
