Online Reporter
Joseph Madzimure, Zimpapers Politics Hub
ACCREDITATION of Zanu-PF delegates expected to attend the 22nd Annual National People’s Conference has started.
A lean number of delegates is expected to attend the conference this year, which will be more focused on the state of the economy.
The conference will be held at Mutare Polytechnic Pavilion Grounds from October 13 to 18, commencing with the Politburo and Central Committee meetings in Harare.
In an interview, Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa said the accreditation began yesterday.
The conference will run under the theme: “Attainment of Vision 2030 through economic empowerment and value addition.”
Cde Mutsvangwa said the conference is a key process for consolidating the party’s 2023 electoral mandate and evaluating progress made under the Second Republic.
“We are currently here at the Zanu-PF headquarters, witnessing a flurry of activity as delegates arrive for the registration process.
“From here, the focus will expand to the provinces as anticipation builds for the party conference in Manicaland next week,” Cde Mutsvangwa said.
He said that all party organs and provincial representatives are actively engaged in this important event.
“So are the provinces of the party, which will be dispatching delegates to this important party conference.
“Confidence is running high, thanks to our host, President Mnangagwa, the party President and First Secretary.
“He has successfully addressed most of the resolutions from the Bulawayo conference, fulfilling the expectations of Zimbabweans regarding the improvement of their living conditions.
“We are pleased to report that all the key objectives have been positively met,” Cde Mutsvangwa said.
He said President Mnangagwa has been “ticking each box” as to what the expectations of Zimbabweans are in terms of the general improvement of their living conditions.
“We are happy to say that the tick boxes are all positive. The party is doing well in terms of rising exports, which are now exceeding imports.
“There is also the revival of the economy of Manicaland province, which is our host province, with the micro-climates of Manicaland delivering fruits, flowers and other crops, which of course include blueberries, which found a ready market on the global stage. We are very happy that we have just signed another off-take agreement with China,” he said.
President Mnangagwa will commission four major projects that are some of the projects driving the province’s economy.
President Mnangagwa will commission the Mega Market milling plant, Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Mutare Depot artificial intelligence-powered silos, National Pharmaceutical warehouse, and lead a tree-planting exercise at the land adjacent to the conference venue, where the party’s provincial offices will be built, on October 16, 2025.
The party’s National Chairman, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, said the venue is now ready, with just a few outstanding touches.
“We have requested that the President commission some projects in Mutare. “We had a request from businesses — for example, Mega Market, which has set up a state-of-the-art milling plant, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe, and they have requested that it be commissioned by the President on Thursday, as our programme starts on Friday.
“We also have the GMB silos, as well as the National Pharmaceutical warehouse, which has been built by the Ministry of Health and Child Care at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital. We expect that the President will commission it. We also expect the President to lead a tree-planting ceremony at the venue of the new party offices.
“This is an added programme for the President on that Thursday,” Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
She added that delegates will also tour the Chimoio Liberation War Shrine in Mozambique, with provinces taking turns, and the schedule has already been agreed upon between the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, and his Mozambican counterpart.
“We have come as the National Co-ordinating Committee, together with all the provincial chairpersons. With only nine days left before we embark on our programme, which commences on October 13 with the Politburo and Central Committee meetings in Harare, this is our third meeting.
“We will return next Friday for the final one to ensure we are 100 percent ready to host our conference. I am pleased to note significant progress. On our previous visit, little had been done following the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo, which was held here and helped with the groundwork.
“We had a tour of the entire venue to inspect the tents, ventilation, and as you have seen, we are almost ready, with only final touches remaining. Our offices are nearly 95 percent complete.
“The canteen area and exhibition space are ready. SMEs from Manicaland will be given an opportunity to sell their wares during the conference. Our women, youths, SMEs, and others must benefit,” Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
She said the committee received updates from various committees, indicating that the programme, agenda, and the Central Committee report have been compiled and are ready.
“The report reflects all our activities as a party from 2024, including passed resolutions, both implemented and unimplemented, as well as new resolutions from the provinces.
“Prior to the conference, we held provincial inter-district meetings where the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) reported on all programmes implemented by the Government in the provinces.
“We have new resolutions focusing on the state of the economy, the party, social sector, health, schools in the provinces, as well as youth and women empowerment projects.
“High on our agenda is also the issue of drug and substance abuse pervading society. Zanu-PF has declared zero tolerance to drugs.
“As we speak, people are on the ground conducting awareness programmes and collecting data in villages on those affected by the scourge, in preparation for us to assist them through rehabilitation centres,” Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
She said accreditation of delegates and invited guests is progressing well.
“We have different categories, including invited guests and delegates, and their accreditation is ongoing and is at 85 percent.
“We will be very strict on this—it is not a free-for-all event. We had a security problem in Bulawayo last year after some hooligans gatecrashed the conference. This time, security will be very tight.
“We also discussed accommodation, transport, food, and everything is ready. Payments have been made, and provincial chairpersons will inspect the venues allocated for their delegates.
“Foodstuffs and cattle pledged are being honoured, and we are really grateful for the overwhelming response from the provinces. People are contributing and have surpassed our expectations.
We had set a target of US$50 000, but some provinces have reached US$150 000.
“It is amazing that our provinces are taking this seriously, in line with the President’s mantra, Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo (the country will be developed by its own people), and the party is supported by its own members,” Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
She stated that the party is expecting US$5 million for the conference.
“We are almost halfway to raising the conference funds. Money keeps coming in, and we remain hopeful. There is a huge appetite to attend the conference; people are eager and happy about what Zanu-PF and our President have achieved regarding the economy, National Development Strategy (NDS) 1, which is transitioning into NDS 2, especially food security and self-sufficiency.
“We have had a record wheat harvest, and inputs for the next summer season are already being distributed.
“People want to come and hear about these plans, including income-generating programmes being implemented by the Government.
“In Manicaland, our roads are very busy; they are being upgraded, and the mining sector continues to grow while export volumes continue to surge, which speaks volumes about a viable economy.
“There are prospects to revamp the railway system so that the goods train can be responsible for both exports and imports, easing the pressure on our roads and reducing accidents,” Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
