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Walter Mswazie and Vusumuzi Dube in Masvingo
THE Ancient City of Masvingo was a hive of activity as delegates started arriving for the 16th Zanu-PF Annual People’s conference which kicked off yesterday.
The conference, running under the theme; “Moving with Zim-Asset in peace and unity”, will see 7 000 delegates converging in Masvingo, the host province for this year.
The conference kick-started with a Politburo meeting held at the party headquarters in Harare yesterday which will be followed by a central committee meeting set for today at the same venue.
Deliberations at the conference are expected to centre on the economy, particularly progress made in implementing the Government’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset.
When a Chronicle news crew visited Masvingo Polytechnic yesterday, by 8am hundreds of delegates and service providers were already at the institution finalising their accreditation.
Others were settling in after securing accommodation around the city for the conference set to end on Saturday.
At the Masvingo Showgrounds, the venue of the conference, workers were putting final touches in readiness for the meeting.
Different companies that include Small to Medium Enterprises were also making last minute checks at their stands at the business expo, which is also being held at the showgrounds.
There are 60 exhibitors set for the expo and by yesterday notable companies like Zesa Holdings, Telone and National Social Security Authority (NSSA) were putting final touches on their stands.
Local businesses have also received a major boost as a result of increased demand for goods and services mainly from delegates.
Delegates interviewed expressed excitement ahead of the official opening of the conference, saying they all expected the conference resolutions to have a huge say towards the revival of the country’s economy.
Zanu-PF Masvingo acting provincial chairperson, Cde Amasa Nhenjana, said the province was 100 percent ready to host the more than 7 000 delegates expected to attend the conference.
Friends of Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Trust were also busy completing the refurbishment of the late Vice President Simon Muzenda heritage site in Mucheke suburb. The site is expected to be ready for official commissioning by President Mugabe on Friday.
The trust’s creative director, Mr Rayban Sengwayo said work on the site was almost complete with the perimeter wall having been completed.
“By Friday all will be in place for the official commissioning by His Excellency, President Mugabe. The construction of the perimeter wall is now complete and we are now left with thatching of the late Benjamin Burombo house. We have the late Simon Muzenda’s two huts and another metal hut representing a prison cell,” said Mr Sengwayo.
Masvingo Chamber of SMEs Mrs Sarah Munemo said she was excited with the opportunity presented to small businesses in Masvingo as they will showcase their products to a bigger audience.
“We are happy as SMEs to be presented with this rare opportunity to showcase our wares before a bigger audience.
“We look forward to make business during the conference and form linkages with other companies from other provinces. The conference will empower us economically,” said Ms Munemo.
Online Reporter