Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
ZANU PF Manicaland has emerged from the 22nd National People’s Conference with renewed vigour, strengthened unity of purpose among its members, and new-found cohesion to devise a coherent plan to break ground on the construction of new party offices in Mutare by January next year.
The conference brought together over 3 500 delegates and invited guests, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared vision for the party’s future.
President Mnangagwa last Saturday planted a Terminalia Mantaly (Umbrella/Madagascar Almond) tree in honour of his late mother, Mbuya Mhurai Mnangagwa at the party provincial stand – a gesture that galvanised and equipped the party with a clear direction and singleness of purpose to develop a robust plan for the new provincial offices.
ZANU PF Manicaland provincial chairman, Cde Tawanda Mukodza on Wednesday, said the President’s participation in the tree-planting ceremony testified to the party’s commitment to build the new party offices to boost its operations, serving as a hub for party activities and symbolising its enduring presence in the province.
He expressed optimism about the project’s prospects, citing the strengthened unity within the party as a key factor in its success.
“The 22nd National People’s Conference went very well, and as a province, we are still receiving compliments from the party leadership for hosting what we rank as the best conference in the party’s history. People with divergent views mingled, becoming more tolerant to opposing views. That interaction is vital in politics. The conference was a unifying force, bringing party members together, and fostering a sense of unity and purpose. It diffused tensions and suspicions, allowing us to focus on our shared goals. We are now moving in one direction, with a renewed sense of determination and singleness of purpose.
“The site where the President planted a tree was acquired some time ago, and we will construct a state-of-the-art structure, housing a conference centre and party offices. We are advancing 3D architectural designs, which, upon approval, will lead to construction. Three designs will be considered by the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC), with input from all Central Committee and Politburo members from Manicaland. Our target is to commence construction and see activity on the site by early January 2026,” said Cde Mukodza, while also expressing gratitude for the conference’s seamless progression and lack of bloodshed on the roads.
“We are pleased that there were no casualties before, during, or after the conference. Delegates and guests returned home safely, and we are thankful for the preservation of lives. It was a landmark conference, leaving a positive legacy of infrastructure development and economic of the people of Mutare, especially small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs),” he said.
One of the most significant outcomes of the conference was the reaffirmation of the party’s earlier resolution to extend President Mnangagwa’s tenure by another two years from 2028 to 2030, and ensure that the requisite constitutional amendments are effected before the next conference.
Announcing the resolutions at the close of the conference, ZANU PF national secretary for Legal Affairs, Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi said the conference noted that there was little movement in the implementation of the resolution since its adoption at the last conference held in Bulawayo in 2024.
Some of the resolutions included the need to ensure harmonisation of affiliates with the party to ensure cohesion, directing the party’s legal and commissariat department to come up with guidelines that ensure seamless internal elections.
It was also resolved that non-combatant cadres be accorded war veteran status and all veterans of the struggle be conferred with State-assisted funerals.
Delegates expressed optimism that the party will adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards the pervasive scourge of drug and substance abuse, and implement strategies to curtail rampant drug trafficking, crack down on drug lords, and prosecute them.
Some delegates also called for the party to develop policies aimed at promoting economic development and growth, as well as empowerment initiatives tailored for rural industrialisation and growth.
