All set for Zanu-PF Congress

Tendai Mugabe Harare Bureau
THE much awaited crunch Zanu-PF 6th National People’s Congress kicks off in Harare tomorrow with a lot of surprises expected after several bigwigs stumbled by the wayside and failed to make it into the party’s Central Committee.

Traditionally, President Mugabe is known for appointing Politburo members from those who have been voted into the Central Committee, which is the party’s highest decision making organ between congresses.

Notable figures that failed to make it into the Central Committee include Vice President Joice Mujuru who is effectively the party’s outgoing Second Secretary and Cde Didymus Mutasa who is the Secretary for Administration.

The two alongside a number of other senior Politburo members that were dumped by the people in their provinces for plotting to assassinate President Mugabe, are now banking on the President’s benevolence to bounce back.

The congress, which is running under the theme “Accelerated Implementation of Zim-Asset”, starts with a Politburo meeting tomorrow that will review the proposed amendments to the Zanu-PF constitution.

The proposed amendments which allow the President to appoint his deputies and the party’s national chairman are expected to be endorsed by the Central Committee on Thursday.

President Mugabe who is the Zanu-PF First Secretary is expected to officially open the congress on Thursday, heralding the beginning of decisive deliberations.

Although the party’s interim spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo could not be reached for a comment yesterday, several provincial chairpersons confirmed their readiness for the congress.

The provinces as per tradition, have come up with resolutions that will be considered by the congress for possible adoption by the party.

Mashonaland Central provincial chair Cde Dickson Mafios who bounced back over the weekend, said they had come up with several resolutions that included the endorsement of President Mugabe as the party’s candidate ahead of 2018 elections.

Cde Mafios said the province also supported the resolution made by the Women’s League that First Lady Grace Mugabe be appointed Secretary for Women’s Affairs.

“As a province, we resolved that the President (Mugabe) should be the sole centre of power who should appoint all Politburo members including members of the Presidium,” he said.

“We also resolved that soon after the President has appointed members of the Politburo, he should also dissolve Cabinet and appoint ministers from the pool of Politburo members to avoid conflict of interest.

“We’ve observed a trend where Cabinet ministers who aren’t in the Politburo making some attempts to sabotage recommendations made to Government by the party.”

Cde Mafios said Mashonaland Central also recommended that Government should fully support the Grain Marketing Board for it to be able to pay farmers on time.

Midlands held its provincial inter district conference in Gweru yesterday.

Although the provincial spokesperson Cde Cornelius Mupereri, could not be reached for comment, legal affairs secretary Cde John Holder, said the province recommended amendments to the national Constitution with a view to drop some counter revolutionary clauses that were incorporated by Copac during the tenure of the inclusive Government.

He said such clauses included the issue of running mates, which he said created two centres of power in Government.

“We agreed that the party should create an independent body to supervise and run elections in order to create conditions for free and fair elections.”

Cde Holder said they also called for the revival of major companies in the province such as Zim Alloys, Zisco Steel, and Bata among others.

Acting Mashonaland West provincial chairman Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi, said they were done with the accreditation of delegates.

He said as a province, they had surpassed their fundraising target of $150,000.

“We endorsed President Mugabe and the resolution by the Women’s League that Dr Mugabe be appointed the Secretary for the Women’s League,” he said.

In Masvingo, acting chair Cde Paradzai Chakona, said the province recommended the re-admission of Dr Munyaradzi Kereke into the party among other resolutions.

“Dr Kereke won the Bikita West constituency on a Zanu-PF ticket,” he said.

“His suspension was orchestrated by Cde Dzikamai Mavhaire and others who were fanning factionalism in the province.

“Following his (Dr Kereke)’s suspension it means we’re now one seat short out of the 26 that we initially won.”

Cde Chakona said the province also recommended the reintroduction of District Coordinating Committees that were abolished presumably for causing divisions in the party.

He said it was also agreed that conservancies in Masvingo province and other big companies such as Tongaat Hullets should be indigenised.

Cde Phenias Chihota, who is the acting chair in Mashonaland East, said they were ready for the congress.

“We’re done with the accreditation of delegates and we were accrediting at least three party officials per ward,” he said.

“Those who were suspended aren’t going to attend the congress until their cases are finalised.”

In Harare, the acting chair Cde Chris Chigumba said accreditation was complete.

He said the provincial coordinating committee met yesterday to come up with its resolutions for the congress.

Sources say all systems were ready for the congress in the remaining provinces of Bulawayo, Mat South and North and Manicaland.

At least 12,200 delegates are expected to attend the congress which runs from December 2 to 7.

Last week, Cde Khaya Moyo said a mop up accreditation exercise would be done at the party headquarters to deal with the remaining five percent of the delegates as and when they come.