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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
PREPARATIONS for the Zanu-PF 17th Annual National People’s Conference to be held in Gwanda in December are underway with about 8 000 delegates expected to attend.
Speaking in an interview after a preparatory meeting yesterday, Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial chairperson, Cde Rabelani Choeni, said 11 committees had been activated.
The conference is set to run from December 11-16.
“We just held our first preparatory meeting for the 17th Annual National People’s Conference. We activated 11 committees that were previously formulated and they have started working towards the conference. The committees are set to meet and from there we will come up with a total budget for the conference.
“We are picking up from last year since we were supposed to host the conference but there were last minute changes. We are confident that we will be successful in preparing for the conference. A total of about 7 000 delegates are expected to attend the conference but the figure might rise up to 8 000 because there are other stakeholders that we are yet to incorporate such as members of the business community,” Cde Choeni said.
He said the province had 162 party districts and each was expected to contribute a beast towards the conference.
Addressing members of various committees during the meeting, Cde Choeni urged stakeholders to work tirelessly to ensure that the event was a success.
Speaking at the same occasion, the Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs, Cde Abednico Ncube, said it was an honour for the province to host the conference and as such stakeholders had to show commitment.
He said the Government was being led by the Zanu-PF party and everyone was part of Government which meant that civil servants were equally involved.
Speaking on the progress made towards preparing the venue for the conference, Matabeleland South Provincial Public Works Director Engineer Sijabuliso Ncube said about $14 million was needed for infrastructure development which comprised maintenance of roads, water and sewer works and refurbishment of the infrastructure that will house the delegates.
He said they were also in need of equipment to prepare the venue.
The next preparatory meeting is set for October 17. — @DubeMatutu
Online Reporter