Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure-Mutare Bureau
PREPARATIONS for the 22nd Zanu PF Annual National People’s Conference are progressing well, with 90 percent of the work to upgrade the venue already completed.
Accommodation for VIPs and delegates has also been secured.
The conference, scheduled to take place from October 13 to 18 at Mutare Polytechnic, is expected to be attended by more than 4 000 delegates.
The party targets to raise US$5 million to cover conference expenses, with Manicaland and five other provinces having already exceeded their allocated fundraising targets of US$50 000.
Notable contributors include Midlands (US$100 000), Mashonaland East (US$105 000), Matabeleland South (US$100 000), Masvingo (US$85 000), Mashonaland West (US$70 000), and Mashonaland Central (US$60 000).
Manicaland, as the host, offered to raise an additional US$1 million.
Zanu PF National Chairperson, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, revealed yesterday that the conference will be held under the theme – “Attainment of Vision 2030 Through Economic Empowerment and Value Addition”.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National Conference Coordination Committee’s venue tour, Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said:
“This joint meeting with the provincial coordinating committee aims to share information and showcase our preparedness. We are almost 90 percent ready.
‘The draft conference agenda and programme have been approved and three ministries – Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises; Veterans of the Liberation Struggle; and Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training – will address the conference,” said Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri, emphasising that the Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse campaign will feature prominently on the agenda.
She said as per conference roadmap, Provincial Inter-District Conferences are scheduled for September 12, with senior Politburo members and Government officials presenting updates on previous conference resolutions, while experts will discuss drug and substance abuse.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri stressed that all party wings must adopt zero tolerance resolutions on drug and substance abuse, and advocate for a levy to combat this issue, modelled after the Aids levy.
“During these meetings, designated senior Politburo members and an officer from the Office of the President and Cabinet will present updates on the implementation of previous congress and conference resolutions.
“Additionally, experts from the Drug and Substance Abuse Inter-Ministerial Taskforce will deliver related presentations. Consequently, all party wings and the main body must unequivocally adopt a new conference resolution advocating for zero tolerance to drug and substance abuse, and urging the Government to establish an Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Levy, modelled after the Aids levy.”
She noted that the party is fortunate to have the conference coincide with the Sanganai World Tourism Expo, scheduled to take place from September 10 to 12 – a month prior to the conference.
“Apart from benefiting from venue developments intended for the expo, the committee should also utilise the expo as a trial run to assess the venue’s effectiveness and address any shortcomings before our conference commences. The committee must leverage the expo as a benchmark to measure and enhance our conference organisation.
“To showcase our party’s excellence and boost delegate enthusiasm, I propose introducing Presidential Provincial Party Cell Registration Excellence Awards, recognising the top three provinces in this regard, effective from this forthcoming conference.”
Only approved delegates would be accredited to attend the conference, with approval being non-transferable.
“No unauthorised delegates or guests will be allowed to avoid a repeat of last year’s challenges where we struggled to cater for over 9 000 delegates, exceeding the approved 4 250,” she said.
Politburo members Cdes Jacob Mudenda, Mutsvangwa, Munyaradzi Machacha, Patrick Chinamasa and Douglas Mahiya attended the tour together with Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, central committee Member Cde Shadreck Chipanga and provincial members led by Cde Tawanda Mukodza.
