Exhibitors, service providers accredited for Zanu PF conference

Sikhumbuzo Moyo

Bulawayo Bureau

THE accreditation of business exhibitors and service providers was concluded on Wednesday at the Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial headquarters, Davies Hall, with the media accredited yesterday ahead of the official opening of the party’s Annual National People’s Conference by President Mnangagwa today.

Davies Hall was a hive of activity early in the morning as people jostled to be accredited.

The process which had a few glitches when it started, later progressed smoothly with the media also observing. Those who were accredited were taken through stages of checking completed forms, taking photos and printing the cards.

“I wasn’t here in the morning, but from what I have observed, the accreditation process is going on well and it is not taking long, which is great,” said one of the service providers who requested anonymity citing protocol issues with his employers. Among the service providers who were served yesterday are catering teams from hospitality players, entertainment groups and school children, among others.

The ruling party’s indaba kicked off with a Politburo meeting in Harare on Tuesday followed by the Central Committee meeting on Wednesday, mainly focused on economic and developmental issues as the party takes stock of its programmes and promises made before the 2023 harmonised elections, which it resoundingly won, underpinning its huge following. A majority of party delegates, including senior members of the revolutionary party are expected in Bulawayo today to attend the official opening of the conference.

The conference, expected to be attended by about 4 000 delegates, is a big boost to business particularly for entertainment spots, restaurants, hotels and lodges.  The Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) has already reported that the city’s major hotels and lodges are fully booked this week.

This year’s conference is running under the theme; “Industrialise, Mordernise Towards Attainment of Vision 2030” and comes just a month after Cabinet adopted a roadmap towards implementation of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the last lap towards implementation of programmes that lead to the attainment of an upper-middle income economy by 2030.