Zanu-PF conference to lay groundwork for polls

In an interview yesterday, Cde Moyo said, the conference was a non-elective one and was aimed at gearing up for the forthcoming elections.
“I have to say this is a defining conference bearing in mind the fact that this is the last major meeting before the holding of elections,” said Cde Moyo.
He said the conference would give the party an opportunity to review its performance since the last conference in Mutare last year.

Cde Moyo said during the conference they would look at the state of the party in a bid to see if it is has clear polices and programmes that are people centred.
“This conference will give us introspection in terms of how the party has performed since last year. It is also going to help us review of our strengths and our shortcomings,” said Cde Moyo.
He said they would also evaluate their structures. “By so doing we want our structures to breathe, we want to make them alive and so we are going to strengthen them,” said Cde Moyo.
He said the conference would also discuss the party’s responsibility over the livelihood of the people.

“We are guided by our theme: ‘defending our national sovereignty, consolidating indigenisation and economic empowerment’ in analysing our role as a party,” said Cde Moyo.
He said the delegates would discuss about indiginisation.
“For obvious reasons we are also going to spend more time debating ways how indiginisation should benefit each and every Zimbabwean. Our people have a stake in the economy, they are stakeholders in mining, manufactur-ing, tourism and agriculture, so the topic of empowerment will be discussed at length as well,” said Cde Moyo.

He said the delegates would also take a cue from President Mugabe’s key note address.
“Obviously the President is going to raise interesting points that the delegates would like to discuss about, and I think that is why he described the congress as a ‘many conference’,” said Cde Moyo.
He said it would be a loaded conference, as it would also discuss issues to do with social services delivery.

“We are also going to discuss how the hospitals work, the education sector as well the operations of the media because that is where all the misrepresentation occurs,” said Cde Moyo.
Zanu-PF national secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa on Friday affirmed that his party was geared for the conference, which would be held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) grounds.

Delegates to the Zanu-PF 12th Annual National People’s Conference will start arriving in Bulawayo on Wednesday ahead of the official opening of the event by President Mugabe on Thursday.
The parties that are set to attend are MPLA of Angola, the Patriotic Front of Zambia, ANC of South Africa, Swapo of Namibia, Chama Chamapinduzi of Tanzania, Zambia’s Unip and Frelimo of Mozambique.

This year’s conference runs under the theme “Defend national sovereignty, consolidate indigenisation and economic empowerment”.
A 36 head of cattle are meant to feed delegates are already at the Cold Storage Company (CSC).
The conference will end with a gala at the White City Stadium on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Zanu-PF Bulawayo province is today expected to put final touches to preparations for the hosting of the party’s 12th Annual National Peoples’ Conference that starts at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds this week.
Delegates to the conference, which will be held under the theme, “Defend National Sovereignty, Consolidate Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment,” are expected to start arriving on Wednesday.

The conference is expected to attract more than 3 000 delegates.
Speaking at a delegates’ meeting held at Davies Hall yesterday, Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Isaac Dakamela said the province had made commendable progress in preparation of the conference.

“As a province we have covered a lot of groundwork ahead of the conference. We are finalising on few issues such as the accreditation of delegates otherwise accommodation and food for delegates have been secured while the setting up of thematic committees that will discuss issues at the conference is complete,” he said.