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It was certainly an early Christmas gift to residents of the City of Gweru.
The event illuminated and brought to life the otherwise sleepy city with a lot of businesses being generated by most enterprises.
The City of Progress itself did not disappoint, as it responded well to the Zanu-PF delegates, giving them an unmatched, warm reception since the start of the conference on the 5th of December. The imposing $6,5 million convention centre, whose construction was met with a lot of negative criticism, though still not complete, has silenced critics. The magnificent structure proved to be quite a spectacle to delegates attending the conference and ordinary citizens.
From the volume of traffic, both human and vehicular witnessed in Gweru during the course of the conference, it became apparent that the city had done itself a favour in marketing itself so well.
The carnival atmosphere created by the conference delegates changed Gweru’s leisure life as delegates started partying two days before the big event kicked off, thus helping locals get into the celebratory mood ahead of Christmas. One could not help but notice that Gweru’s night life was out-of-the-ordinary.
Zanu-PF has a sentimental connection with Gweru, as this is where the revolutionary party held its first national congress in 1964 where the resolution to take up arms against the white settler government was made. Thus, the 13th National People’s Conference has reignited the spirit of the liberation struggle. The conference’s action oriented theme, “Indigenise, Empower, Develop and Create Employment”, aptly captures the party’s resolve to fully empower indigenous Zimbabweans, and resonates well with the action- oriented resolution that was made by the party at the 1964 congress which was to take up arms against the white settler regime.
Zanu-PF President and First Secretary, Cde Mugabe gave a keynote address on Friday, in which he took the more than 6 000 delegates at the conference down memory lane, as he chronicled the country’s liberation history from the first Chimurenga of 1896. Interestingly as President Mugabe chronicled the country’s liberation history, he highlighted Gweru’s place in that history, inviting a thunderous applause from the house particularly people from the Midlands Province.
Apart from the conference rekindling the spirit of the liberation struggle, Friday’s session proved to be a glamorous event with song and dance, fashion, humour and wit spicing the occasion.
This perhaps shows the sophistication Zanu-PF has, as the leaders managed to tackle serious business while at the same time affording to showcase their strong fashion sense and a strong sense of humour too.
President Mugabe showed that he is not only a political leader and revolutionary luminary but a trendsetter in as far as fashion is concerned.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces arrived at the venue at around 11am on Friday the third day of the conference, clad in a colorful yellow jacket, with the party’s name inscribed on it and a portrait of his glowing face printed on it.
A matching yellow tie on a white shirt, accompanied by a matching yellow cap definitely placed the President among the country’s fashion gurus, as he proved that his age has not taken away his strong appreciation for style.
The First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe was not to be outdone in the fashion “contest.” She arrived at the venue together with President Mugabe, donning a yellow outfit with the President’s portrait and the party’s name printed on it. A matching yellow head gear came as an icing on the cake for the First Lady. The first family’s matching dress showed that they are indeed first even in seemingly smaller issues of life.
On Saturday, on the closing day of the conference, the first family proved that their stunning look the previous day was no fluke. President Mugabe and his wife, Amai Grace Mugabe came donning matching red outfits, with the party’s name and the President’s portrait printed on them.
President Mugabe topped it up with a red shirt, with pencil white stripes, a red tie and a white cap.
The entire conference showed that Zanu-PF was indeed not only a revolutionary party but a party with flare and style, as its leaders and supporters came wearing different but equally breathtaking party outfits.
Different party paraphernalia was also on sale at the event, from head gear, wrist bands, T-shirts and one could not help but marvel at the organisation and discipline showcased by the delegates at the conference.
Friday, the official opening day of the conference stole the show as it had everything in store for people of different dispositions.
Fashion enthusiasts had the first family to marvel at, President Mugabe’s address was moving and catered for those of a more serious disposition. Those with a great sense of humour laughed the day away as the party’s national commissar, Cde Webster Shamu showed one or two skills in impromptu stand-up comedy.
As President Mugabe walked into the auditorium which was filled to capacity on Friday, the house exploded to a deafening applause as party supporters welcomed the iconic leader.
Immediately the house burst into song, led by the silky voices of the Midlands Queens Choir, as party supporters eulogised President Mugabe’s undisputed leadership ability, through the popular song “Ndibaba vanogona kutungamira.”
Zanu-PF national secretary for Science and Technology who is also Minister of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Cde Olivia Muchena put the session before the throne of God with a moving opening prayer, showing the strong religious principles on which the party is built. Soon after the opening prayer, the Midlands Queens Choir churned out yet another jam, lauding the Zanu-PF leadership for their effort to empower indigenous Zimbabweans. The smooth, silky and resonate voices of the choir drew the house to join in and the walls of the new structures reverberated to the sound.
Even the Presidium gave in to the sweet music as party President Mugabe, Vice-President and Second Secretary, Cde Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru, Secretary for Administration Cde Didymus Mutasa and National Chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, could be seen clapping their hands in appreciation of the choir’s sweet melodies.
The Director of Ceremonies, Cde Shamu provided some humour and wit as he sent the house into stitches when he constantly picked on some of the party’s leaders. Each time Cde Shamu called upon presenters to the podium, he would pass a witty remark about them and Cde Mutasa was the biggest victim of Cde Shamu’s antics.
The conference proceeded well with Cde Mutasa, the party’s Secretary for Legal Affairs Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, Cde Khaya Moyo and Zanu-PF chairman for the Midlands Province Cde Jason Machaya making presentations before President Mugabe took to the podium to give his keynote address.
President Mugabe’s address was punctuated by the popular Jerusarema drums, the signature tune to ZBC news. This showed creativity and ingenuity on the party’s leadership.
After the President’s moving keynote address, the house broke for lunch at about 2.45pm. In the afternoon proceedings resumed at around 4:30 and delegates were treated to some music from the police band who did cover versions of songs by local artists, perhaps in sync with the party’s indigenisation policy.
Simon Chimbetu’s One Way, got the house on their feet as the police band delivered it in a fashion that must have had the liberation war hero and musician smiling in his grave.
The nimble-footed dancers from the police band did the Borrowdale Dance sending the house into a delirium. One could have easily been fooled into believing that an early Christmas party was underway, yet it was the party mixing work and play. As the saying goes, “all work and no play make jack a dull boy”.
Liberation parties from other countries in Africa gave moving solidarity messages which reminded party supporters of the need to strengthen ties with their African counterparts in the fight against neocolonialism.
Representatives from Mozambique’s Frelimo, Tanzania’s Chama Chamapinduzi, South Africa’s ANC and Angola’s MPLA all gave solidarity messages. The different representatives chanted the Zanu-PF slogan in Shona, much to the delight of delegates who appreciated genuine solidarity shown by their African counterparts.
President Mugabe closed the conference on Saturday and yet again moved the auditorium with his plea for cadres to end factionalism within the party structures.
He sent the gallery into stitches when he rechristened Mashonaland West province “Mashonaland Worst” after the province came out last among the 10 provinces in the manner it is administered and organised.
He remarked on the irony that he, together with the sponsor of the prizes Cde Philip Chiyangwa and the party’s National Commissar Cde Shamu who was part of the adjudicating team, were all from the same province that was voted last.
Mashonaland Central scooped the top prize and were rewarded with a trophy and $6 000 cash, followed by Mashonaland East who walked away with a shield plus $3 000 cash. Midlands was voted third winning a shield and $1 000 cash. Manicaland, Harare, Masvingo, Mat South, Mat North and Bulawayo followed in that order.
In a nutshell the conference can be described as organised, refreshing, revitalising, witty, fashionable, packed with humour and serious business.
The conference was wrapped up with song and dance as delegates were treated to a musical gala on Saturday night, with the likes of Alick Macheso, Jah Prayzah, Mahendere Brothers and Sandra Ndebele to mention just a few, mesmerising delegates.
Online Reporter