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Joseph Madzimure
Senior Reporter
FOREIGN delegates from ruling political parties across Africa are trickling in for the two-day 7th Zanu PF National Youth conference which begins today.
The ruling party is winding up preparations for the conference at the Harare International Conference Centre, with delegates from the country’s 10 provinces expected to arrive today.
The conference runs from today until Friday and will be officially opened by President Mnangagwa.
Those who arrived in the country yesterday were youths from Imbonerakure, Burundi’s ruling party, the National Council for the Defence of Democracy – Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD–FDD) and Chama Cha Mapinduzi of Tanzania.
Chama Cha Mapinduzi’s youth league secretary-general Cde Kenani Kihongosi said they were excited to be in Zimbabwe for the conference, which will deliberate on issues affecting the youth in Africa.
“We are happy to be here to meet with fellow youth league members across Africa, especially from Zanu PF here in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“We expect to share notes at the conference on how to protect the legacy of Africa’s founding fathers.”
Cde Kihongosi was accompanied by Cde Stela Mbawala, also a member of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi youth league.
Secretary for international relations for Imbonerakure youth league from Burundi’s ruling party, CNDD–FDD, Cde Landry Nzokira said they expected to increase their partnership with Zanu PF Youth League.
“It’s our pleasure to be here, to participate at the youth conference,” he said.
“I believe Zanu PF is a party older than ours, so we will get notes from them. We need to work together as the youth league members from Africa. We also need to form a strong network so that we alleviate our youth from poverty.”
Cde Nzokira was accompanied by Cde Rosine Gatoni, secretary in the department of Information and Communication Technology of the Burundian ruling party.
Zanu PF Youth League Secretary for External Affairs Cde Sibongile Sibanda said more invited delegates were expected to arrive for the conference.
“The delegates from Burundi and Tanzania are already here,” she said.
“We are very grateful, it shows that the relationship is strong and will always continue. We wish them a wonderful stay and a successful conference. We are geared up and we are ready.”
Some of the expected delegates are from South Africa’s ruling party African National Congress, Frelimo of Mozambique, South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) of Namibia.
Among other programmes lined-up for the conference are the election of new members of the Zanu PF Youth League, including the deputy secretary post which gives one a ticket to sit in the Politburo.
Zanu PF has also released names of 40 Youth League members who sailed through at the just-ended provincial elective nominations.
Four members from each province were nominated ahead of the elective conference set for this week.
The last elective conference was held in 2014.
The Youth League’s secretary is appointed at congress by President Mnangagwa, who is also the party’s President and First Secretary.
Acting deputy secretary for Youth League Cde Tendai Chirau said the youths would deliberate on various issues of national importance.
Online Reporter