Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka-Zimpapers Politics Hub
AS the revolutionary party, ZANU PF, prepares to host its premier event, the 22nd Annual National People’s Conference, at Mutare Polytechnic Pavilion Grounds from October 13 to 18, one notable factor which cannot be ignored is the unprecedented level of meticulous preparation at play.
This is a resounding and tangible testament to the party’s formidable organisational strength and unwavering commitment to revolutionary order.
In an exemplary demonstration of efficiency, ZANU PF Manicaland provincial chairman, Cde Tawanda Mukodza, has confirmed that the complete checklist for the venue was finalised a remarkable 10 days ahead of the event.
“Everything is now in place,” Cde Mukodza stated, emphasising that this was a deliberate decision to allow ample time for any necessary corrections or upgrades requested by the party leadership.
This proactive approach eliminates last-minute scrambles and ensures the conference runs with seamless precision, the defining hallmark of a well-oiled political machine.
The thoroughness extends to delegates accreditation, which is currently at 85 percent.
National Chairman Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri stressed that security will be very tight to prevent gate-crashing, a measure taken following security challenges at previous conferences, underscoring the party’s focus on maintaining strict control and order.
Adding immense weight and national significance to the Manicaland gathering, the final preparations have converged with a powerful economic programme.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National Coordinating Committee tour last Friday, Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri revealed that President Mnangagwa is scheduled to commission four major projects on Thursday, October 16, 2025, immediately before the main conference officially begins on Friday.
These major projects are strategically set to bolster Manicaland’s economy and showcase the party’s development focus.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said, “We have requested that the President commission some projects in Mutare. Our programme starts on Friday.”
The scheduled commissioning includes the Mega Market Milling Plant, heralded as the first state-of-the-art facility of its kind in Zimbabwe, the Grain Marketing Board Mutare Depot Artificial Intelligence-Powered Silos, which highlights the focus on food security through technology and the National Pharmaceutical Warehouse, built by the Ministry of Health and Child Care at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, vital for securing essential medicines.
Furthermore, the President will lead a symbolic tree-planting ceremony at the site designated for the party’s new provincial offices, an act symbolically linking the party’s future with environmental stewardship.
The preparations reveal the support base of the revolutionary movement.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri noted that payments for logistics have been made, and the overwhelming response to pledges including foodstuffs and cattle, has surpassed expectations.
“We had set a target of US$50 000, but some provinces have reached $150 000.
“It is amazing that our provinces are taking this seriously, in line with the President’s mantra, Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo (the country will be developed by its own people), and the party is supported by its own members,” she said.
The extensive mobilisation and generous contributions are a clear indicator of the party’s robust internal structures and discipline.
This efficient resource pooling is also further evidence of ZANU PF’s sophisticated ability to coordinate and command the support base, reinforcing its reputation as a formidable political machine.
Crucially the preparations themselves go far beyond mere logistics. They embody a direct investment in the province, spurring significant infrastructure development in Mutare, particularly through road rehabilitation.
“Whenever party activities are decentralised to Manicaland, we witness significant infrastructure development; especially road improvements,” Cde Mukodza stated.
The logistical preparations undertaken for the conference have been so extensive that they represent a permanent investment in Mutare’s municipal infrastructure. These improvements are designed to continue benefiting the city long after the indaba concludes.
Foremost among these is the enhanced water security, which saw the drilling of two additional boreholes, bringing the operational total to five.
Furthermore, storage capacity received a substantial upgrade, expanding from 5 000 litres to tanks of 10 000 and 20 000 litres, a measure critically taken to prioritise the health and safety of the large gathering.
Beyond water provision, comprehensive measures were implemented for safety and health, ensuring a secure environment for all attendees, ablution facilities are fully installed and functional, and emergency services are secured with ambulances positioned on standby.
Essential modern infrastructure was not overlooked, as the necessary connectivity has been established with the wifi system secured and ready to facilitate the communication of the party’s key agenda items both nationally and internationally.
Finally, detailed consideration was given to hospitality, with sufficient buses procured for delegate transport and all accommodation arrangements firmly in place, thus demonstrating the organising committee’s thorough consideration for the safety and comfort of every participant.
The renovation of the Mutare showgrounds, set to host the conference gala, is also proceeding rapidly, poised to boost the local economy and provide an opportunity for local entrepreneurs.
The Mutare Polytechnic itself stands to gain lasting utility from the upgraded facilities, potentially transforming the venue into a secure event hub.
This extensive development agenda, seamlessly integrated into the conference preparations, perfectly illustrates the core principle that ZANU PF’s commitment extends beyond political assembly to genuine national development.
By strategically decentralising major events like the Annual People’s Conference, the party ensures that essential infrastructure from roads and water systems to connectivity is significantly upgraded.
This proactive use of the conference as a catalyst for urban renewal and investment is a powerful demonstration of ZANU PF’s sophisticated planning and its revolutionary focus on Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo (the country will be developed by its own people), translating organisational efficiency into tangible, lasting benefits for the hosting province.
The conference is also set to provide a direct economic boost to the local community.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri confirmed that SMEs from Manicaland will be given an opportunity to sell their wares during the conference.
Furthermore, the party is set to reinforce its ideological foundation.
Delegates will tour the Chimoio Liberation War Shrine in Mozambique, a crucial exercise with provinces taking turns according to an agreed schedule between the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, and his Mozambican counterpart.
The holistic, forward-thinking, and thorough nature of the arrangements from the perfect venue logistics to the addition of major economic commissionings clearly demonstrates that ZANU PF is an organisation of formidable strength, ready not only to convene a conference but to galvanise the nation around its agenda of economic growth and political stability. The stage is set for a successful, transformative gathering.
Bongani Ndlovu