Zanu-PF indaba official opening today

Sikhumbuzo Moyo

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is expected to arrive in Bulawayo early this morning for a double header programme, leading the nation in commemorating the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day before officially opening the 21st Zanu PF Annual National People’s Conference.

Delegates continued to troop into the second largest city yesterday ahead of the party’s indaba, which is being hosted at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) under theme: “Industrialise and Modernise Towards Attainment of Vision 2030”.

The hosting of the key national events in Bulawayo is significant given the debilitating impact of Western-imposed sanctions on the city’s industries since the turn of the millennium, and how the Second Republic — led by President Mnangagwa — has made strides in rejuvenating manufacturing companies in line with National Development Strategy and Vision 2030 ideals.

While speculators are eager to see Zanu PF divided and crumbling, President Mnangagwa has clearly articulated in his earlier addresses to Politburo and Central Committee members in Harare that the ruling party will emerge from the strategic indaba stronger and galvanised to drive the national development agenda.

He has rallied party members, and all Zimbabweans to continue cherishing the values of unity and loyalty in pursuit of national development and preserving the gains of the liberation struggle, which ushered the country’s independence from colonial rule.

Bulawayo was already a hive of activity yesterday as different service providers and business exhibitors put final touches while the accreditation of the media was concluded in readiness for today’s official opening session and key deliberations by the close to 4000 delegates.

Speaking at the conference venue, Zanu-PF director of information, Cde Farai Marapira, said it was all systems go and reiterated the agenda of the gathering, which is the economy and development, and not succession issues as claimed by some social media reports.

“Essentially, this is a conference, contrary to what some sectors of the media were saying that it’s a congress. Those in Zanu PF are fully aware of that, which is why the media excitement was nowhere near Zanu PF,” said Cde Marapira.

“We will mainly be focusing on the conference theme, which guides the thrust of the conference, which is to ‘industrialise and modernise towards the attainment of Vision 2030’.”

The conference kicked off with a Politburo meeting on Tuesday followed by a Central Committee meeting on Wednesday, and both events were presided over by the party’s First Secretary, President Mnangagwa.

Cde Marapira said they expected all delegates to have arrived by last night and be seated at the venue this morning.

“Tomorrow (today) delegates will take up their seats, deliberate and come up with resolutions as provinces and various organs of the party,” he said.

“On Saturday, these deliberations will be tabled to the conference to come up with final resolutions, which shall guide us as a party into the coming year”.

Cde Marapira drew attention to President Mnangagwa’s inauguration speech where he identified agriculture and mining as two sectors to lead the transformation of the economy and industrialisation.

“We are now looking at the expansions that have happened in mining and we realise that it’s time to start setting up and expanding the manufacturing industry, which should then eventually become the backbone of the economy,” he said.

“This is the final stage of establishing an upper-middle class economy as is the President’s vision. So, essentially this is what delegates are coming to do – to deliberate, ruminate on what occurred in the past year, ruminate on the past year’s resolutions and craft new resolutions as we go into the following year”.

During the conference, various heads of part portfolios, who are mainly Cabinet Ministers, will make presentations on key development issues touching on the state of the economy, and key development projects with foreign delegates and affiliates delivering solidarity messages.

The people’s conference is running alongside a business expo, initially slated for Hall 5 but a huge uptake by business, industry and commerce players has seen exhibitors spilling outside.

Cde Marapira said the huge business footprint is testimony that despite the illegal sanctions, the economy is growing as a result of the policies of the ruling party, ably led by President Mnangagwa.

“What we see now is Zimbabwe thriving under sanctions, if you recall, when President Mnangagwa came into power in 2017, he mentioned that while we are under sanctions, we are still going to thrive,” he said.

“This is not to say sanctions must not go but we are going to build our country because ‘nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo’. When the business expo is over-subscribed, it speaks to the state of the economy in the country, speaks to the growth of the economy and the successes of the policies of President Mnangagwa”.

Speaking after touring the venue and business expo hall, Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Judith Ncube, called upon city residents to provide a homely environment for the visitors and leave a lasting impression of the city.

“Bulawayo people are known for Ubuntu. As Bulawayo let’s give this marvelous work (conference) the dignity that it deserves and we shall all be happy to say we were able to make it as the people of Bulawayo,” she said.

“I am calling upon Bulawayo residents to make all our visitors to the conference feel at home so that they will find a need to come back to the City. Let us market Bulawayo.

“To me, the conference has been done but what is key now is what happens after the conference as far as the city is concerned”.