Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is expected to arrive in Bulawayo early this morning for a doubleheader programme where he will lead the nation in commemorating Sadc Anti-Sanctions Day and subsequently officially open the ruling Zanu-PF’s 21st Annual National People’s Conference.
Delegates continued trooping into the second largest city yesterday ahead of the party’s Indaba, which is being hosted at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) under the theme: “Industrialise and Modernise Towards Attainment of Vision 2030.”
Analysts have noted that hosting these two key national events in Bulawayo is particularly significant due to the severe impact Western sanctions have had on the city’s industries since the early 2000s. The events will highlight how the Second Republic, under President Mnangagwa’s leadership, has made considerable progress in revitalising manufacturing companies in alignment with the National Development Strategy and Vision 2030 goals. Despite speculators hoping for division within Zanu-PF, President Mnangagwa has firmly stated in his recent addresses to the Politburo and Central Committee in Harare that the ruling party will emerge from the strategic Indaba stronger and more unified, ready to advance the national development agenda.
He has also urged party members and all Zimbabweans to uphold the values of unity and loyalty, emphasising the importance of preserving the gains of the liberation struggle that secured the country’s independence from colonial rule.
Yesterday, Bulawayo was bustling with activity as various service providers and business exhibitors made final preparations, and media accreditation was completed in anticipation of today’s official opening session and key discussions involving nearly 4 000 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.
“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,” said Cde Marapira.
He 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,” said Cde Marapira.
“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 in to do — to deliberate, ruminate on what occurred in the past year, ruminate on the past year’s resolutions, and create new resolutions as we go into the following year,” said Cde Marapira.
During the conference, various heads of part portfolios, 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 affiliations delivering solidarity messages.
The people’s conference is running alongside the business expo, initially slated for Hall Five but a huge intake by business, industry, and commerce players has seen exhibitors spilling outside.
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, said Cde Marapira.
“What we see now is Zimbabwe thriving under sanctions, if you recall, when President Mnangagwa came into power in 2018, 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 ngabaninilo’. 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,” said Cde Marapira.
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 marvellous 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.
“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,” she said.
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