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Updates by Vusumuzi Dube, Simiso Mlevu and Stanford Chiwanga
16:20: That’s all folks. Thanks for being with us. The Zanu-PF 16th Annual People’s Conference is over. Good day. Good year. Have a merry Christamas.
16:15: President Mugabe and Amai Mugabe have given delegates 5kgs rice each. Also, all women, Central Committee and Politburo members to get a piece of new fabric designed by the First Lady.
16:08: Cde Hungwe delivers the closing remarks – “nyaya yapera.”
He adds Masvingo has donated two sheeps to First Lady Amai Mugabe.
“If she doesn’t understand the significance of a sheep, I am advising her to read the book of Hebrews.”
The province has also donated to beasts to President Mugabe.
16:02: President Mugabe is done with his speech.
15:59: “Now I say, we must go home. The year is ending. Let’s us go and till the land.Those of you from the city and also you from rural areas. We are entering the festive season. I want to say to you, happy festive season. Happy holidays.Merry Christmas and Merry Christmas and Merry Christmas again. Happy and prosperous new year,”
1555: “We are happy that this conference went well. There was no bickering. That is what we call THE ZANU PF way. I am happy that this was a very peaceful conference, there was no fighting or name calling at all….This is the Zanu-PF way . Ndatenda, ndatenda, ndatenda. Ndatenda kusingaperi,”
15:51: “You were sent by some who could not attend from your respective provinces to come and deliberate on some.of these key issues. I am told while we had initially targetted at 7 000 delegates, Dr Chombo tells me the figure has reached 9 000 that shows how much Zanu-PF is loved,”
15:45: President Mugabe says to delegates, “Nyika Ndeyedu. Umhlaba ngowethu.”
“The resources above the land and underground are ours. ZimAsset is the one thing which has to bind us together,”
15:42: President Mugabe is praying for good yields in order to avert drought.
“Our host chose to welcome and accommodate delegates with the humblest of hospitalities,”
He says Masvingo treated people well like they are children and thanks Mai Mahofa for a job well done.
“WE SAY WELL DONE MASVINGO!”
15:38: “We came to Masvingo and we found them waiting for us as visitors. Masvingo has been highly hospitable. Masvingo province successfully put aside several of its problems. We pray to our father in heaven that what we have seen during our stay, may it remain like this. May the rains continue to pour.We pray that the rains continue even after we depart this city,”
15:35: “Discipline, discipline, discipline. Party leaders have to be respected and party leaders have to respect their juniors. That is how things should be done. That is how the war was fought and that is how we should continue to carry ourselves. A large part of the success of this conference should be credited to the host province. We came here and found them well prepared to host us,”
1533: “This conference has gone a long way in preparing the party for the 2018 elections. I hope after the conference, the party should now find itself directing more of its energy and resources to being united. We came with grievances. We put our heads together. We came here knowing there were issues. Now we have to go back to our provinces and stop bickering. Lets stop fighting among each other. Let us follow the party’s constitution,” He has urged party members to abide by the party Constitution
15:30: “As we leave the conference, the delegates should carry home to their people that we are a revolutionary party, united as ever. The party is determined to serve its people . He has urged party members to go to their districts and provinces and encourage people to get ready to work as united as ever. Nation is blessed with plentiful resources and thus the ability to rejuvenate the economy . To my mind, this successful conference has in fact gone a long way in preparing the party for 2018 general elections,”
15:28: “We have come to the end of this conference. Reports from the various thematic committees and resolutions clearly indicate that delegates were seriously engaged on the given task. He commends delegates for the job well done saying they came up with realistic possible turnaround solutions for the country’s economy,”
1525: President Mugabe now giving his closing remarks.
15:25: VP Mphoko says all those who did not present today to submit their reports so that they are compiled.
“We do not have time. Time ndeyababa,” says VP Mphoko
15:21: Cde Mupfumira presenting on social services cluster. Government needs to strengthen STEM initiatives. There is need to fund all state Universities. Establishment of a cancer health fund. Government must provide financial support to the Forestry Commission for its research. There should be proper planning of urban setups to.avoid illegal settlements. There should be proper planning to avoid sprouting of undesignated urban settlement like Hopley in Harare. Urges President to declare every Friday a day of cleaning.
15:16: Cde Bimha now presenting on value addition and beneficiation calls on Government to ensure that what we get from agriculture and mining has value added for the benefit of our communities and there should be more training. InterMinisterial committee to drive SMEs to ensure more production within the sector.
15:14: Cde Chipanga makes a request to Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede to add a name for President Mugabe. “H.E was born Robert Gabriel Mugabe but as youths we want his ID and Birth Certificate to read President Robert Gabriel Mugabe.”
15:14: Compel Government to acquire all the remaining white owned farms. Commend the Government for coming up with a housing stands scheme and call upon the Government to make the stands more affordable for the youth. Party to consider young women when compiling list for women for proportional representation. Calls for the speedy implementation of previous party resolutions
15:10: Youth Affairs committee presentation by Cde Kudzai Chipanga and he says they strongly reaffirm the endorsement of President Mugabe and that he becomes life President with unlimited terms. Commends Secretary for Women Affairs Dr Grace Mugabe for her philanthropic work. 21st February Movement be declared national holiday. Party must do away with imposition of candidates. Party must punish and discipline those who engage in factionalism and tribalism. Graduates from youth service be given priority in public service and security services
15:07: She says customs, traditional and religious practices that undermine the independence of a girl child should be outlawed.Urge the party to vigorously promote the participation of women in all key structures within the community. To direct Government to closely monitor the operation of Local Government to ensure effective service delivery. To call upon leadership to deal with corruption in party and government. Urges Government to speed up distribution grain and mechanisation inputs for the farming season.
15:07: Cde Moyo says there should be 50/50 representation in decision-making and leadership positions according to the country’s constitution. Representation in all committees that have to do with land distribution in the country Women should be representative in all committees that deal with the allocation of land in urban and rural areas to address gender parity . Women be given a leading in issues that directly affect them
15:06:There should be 50/50 representation in decision-making and leadership positions according to the country’s constitution. Representation in all committees that have to do with land distribution in the country Women should be representative in all committees that deal with the allocation of land in urban and rural areas to address gender parity. Women be given a leading in issues that directly affect them
15:01:Women reaffirm commitment and support to President Mugabe as the sole candidate of the party in the 2018 elections. First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe to continue leading women as Secretary.
15:00: Women’s Affairs presentation by Umama Sandi Moyo
14:58: Next is Dr Joseph Made who leads the food security cluster thematic committee… He reveals that the government is going to support farmers with adequate tillage and mechanization equipment. Moves are being made to complete all dam projects throughout the country and to reduce water and power tariffs in order to boost farming. Command agriculture to be broadened to include livestock production and all farming equipment will be distributed in a transparent manner. The government is going to revive the Zunde Ramambo/Isiphala seNkosi and an agriculture revolving fund will be set up to support all agricultural projects.
14:55: Kasukuwere continues… He says the committee urged party leadership to stop interfering with other organs of the party. He believes the youth must be empowered in order to take up positions of responsibility. He also urges Ministers of State to work closely with party the leadership in the provinces
14:54: President has extended time for presentations to five minutes, and wild cheers by party members
14:52: VP Mphoko orders Cde Kasukuwere to stop as his time is up
14:51: NPC says the state of the party thematic committee recommend that party structures should be actively involved in supervising government departments operating in their area
14:50: Cde Kasukuwere first to present on state of the party. He reaffirms position of the congress for President Mugabe to be the party’s sole candidate for the 2018 elections. “The party should promote unity and peace and condemn factionalism. Discipline is the backbone to unity and peace. Party should condemn any imposition of candidates during any elections. It was noted that during primary elections some people bus candidates but when we get to the actual elections we lose.”
14:48: VP Mphoko now on the chair. He also emphasises the need to be time conscious. He gives presenters 2 minutes each to report back their deliberations from.respective thematic committees
14:35: The closing ceremony of the 16th Annual People’s Conference has started… Secretary of Admin Dr Ignatius Chombo gets proceedings underway introducing the chairperson of this session Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko. Dr Chombo urges delegates to stick to time allocated so that the conference ends on time.
13:12: President Mugabe has handed over the computers to Chief Charumbira.
13:06: I am so happy with the work that has been done here because it gives our people access to information and technology which is key within any other state.
13:04: When these information centres were formulated, the idea was to help solve this issue of people travelling long distances just to get access to computers.
12:57: We don’t want to see any school with electricity not having any computers because we want our children to be computer literate.
12:54: I am happy we were brought here to see and officiate at this community centre. When computers became popular, we resolved that it would be good to equip our schools. But we faced a challenge because most schools were not electrified – President Mugabe.
12:53: President takes to the podium to make his address.
12:51: Supa says as a Ministry, through Potraz, they are donating 90 computers to Masvingo Province. He has asked President Mugabe to hand them over to Chiefs Council President, Fortune Charumbira.
12:48: Minister Mandiwanzira says the initiative is part of President Mugabe’s ICT drive. “We are aiming to have at least 210 community centres. We will encourage young people who have programing skills to develop applications for our own use. We need to have our own social media platforms.
12:45: ICT Minister Supa is now making his remarks. He says Minister Mahofa’s sentiments about his work on the information centre will make people think he is super. “I am not super Mr President but it’s you who is super. We don’t want people to need transport to get to the nearest Information Centre we want every constituency to have a community information centre. By end of 2017 we want to have a community information centre in every district.”
12:42: The national anthem has been sung. The Minister of State for Masvingo Province Cde Shuvai Mahofa is welcoming guests. She thanks President Mugabe for coming with rains to the province. “President, where we are gathered, it used to be a dilapidated place. I never thought this place will look this good. But this clever man, Supa Mandiwanzira has transformed the place for us. We are now Masvingo and proudly so. What ICT Minister Cde Supa Mandiwanzira has done is commendable. From today even grannies will be able to read newspapers online.”
12:32: The President has gone into a briefing with the Minister of ICT and other senior government officials
12:29: President Mugabe now unveiling the plaque at the information centre
12:25: President Mugabe has arrived for the official opening of the Chikato Community Information Centre. He is accompanied by his two sons, Robert Junior and Chatunga Bellarmine 
12:20: The President is expected any time now…
11:35: Images from yesterday’s conference…
11:25: The curtain comes down today on the 16th Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference in Masvingo. Members of the various thematic committees are currently in closed door sessions. Reports from these thematic committees as well provincial resolutions will later be presented to conference for adoption. The party’s First Secretary and President Cde Mugabe is also expected to then make his closing remarks.
11:15: More images from Chikato Community Information Centre as we wait for the President… 
11:08: The Chikato Community Information Centre is part of the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services’ initiative to transform 70 post offices throughout the country into ICT centres.
11:05: The Minister of ICT Cde Supa Mandiwanzira is already at the venue. In the picture below he can be seen chatting with Chief Fortune Charumbira 
11:00: The two Vice Presidents, Cdes Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko have arrived at Mucheke-A, where a post office has been transformed to a Community Information Centre.
10:59: President Mugabe is this morning set to open the Chikato Community Information centre in Masvingo.
Online Reporter