Masvingo province ups Zanu-PF Conference preps

From George Maponga in Masvingo
The Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial executive has started fundraising for the 16th Annual National People’s Conference with a target to raise $50 000 for the ruling party annual indaba.

Dates for the conference have not yet been announced with identification of the venue still on-going, although indications are that the indaba will be held at the Great Zimbabwe monuments.

Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial secretary for finance, Cde Killer Zivhu, yesterday said preparations for the conference had gone a gear up, with the 10 sub-committees tasked with organising the event having already hit the ground running.

Cde Zivhu said besides targeting to raise $50 000, the province wanted to contribute about 50 beasts to feed delegates who will attend the indaba.

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“Fundraising activities for the conference have reached an advanced stage, and the sub-committee on finance that I chair has already started mobilisation of funds for the conference.

“Our target is to raise $50 000 and 50 beasts to feed the people that we are going to host, and, we have put in place mechanisms to make sure that there is transparency in the mobilisation and use of funds sourced from donors’’ said Cde Zivhu.

He said the finance committee would approach big firms in Masvingo for donations, but warned that party officials who abused donated funds would be severely dealt with.

“We want the collection of donations to be coordinated and not a situation where party officials randomly approach companies for donations. All donated funds will only be spent with the express authority from the party national secretary for finance Cde Obert Mpofu. We will not tolerate thieves out there to abuse donations,’’ said Cde Zivhu.

Provincial administration secretary Cde Ailess Baloyi said preparations for the annual conference were going on well with indications pointing to Great Zimbabwe monuments hosting the indaba expected to draw over 5 000 party delegates.

“We have not yet officially designated the venue of the conference, but from the deliberations that we have held, indications are that the event will be held at Great Zimbabwe monuments,’’ he said.

“Next week, a team from the Zanu-PF headquarters led by secretary for administration Cde Ignatius Chombo will be in Masvingo to assess preparations for the conference, and also make a final decision on the venue,’’ added Cde Baloyi.

Masvingo last hosted the Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference at Masvingo Teachers’ College in 2003.

Last year’s conference was held in the tourist resort of Victoria Falls in Matabeleland North province.

Masvingo’s selection to host this year’s Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference comes after the province successfully hosted President Mugabe’s 92nd birthday celebrations at the Great Zimbabwe monuments.