Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka
Zimpapers Politics Hub
OCTOBER is shaping up to be a defining month for Zimbabwe, with the country preparing to host two major events that carry significance on both the domestic political and regional economic fronts — the 23rd ZANU PF Annual National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi and the 25th COMESA Summit in Harare.
What is increasingly evident is that preparations for both events have moved beyond the planning stage and into visible execution.
From infrastructure upgrades and accommodation facilities in Chinhoyi to technical inspections, transport logistics and digital connectivity at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, there is tangible evidence that the party and Government are taking the two occasions seriously.
The preparations matter because neither event is being treated as an ordinary gathering.
The ZANU PF conference, running from October 12 to 17, will be held under the theme; “From Resolutions to Results: Consolidating Economic Development and Deepening Economic Empowerment Towards Vision 2030”.
A few days later, Zimbabwe will host the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit, under the theme; “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA.”
At one level, the two events belong to different spheres.
The ZANU PF conference is a ruling party gathering focused on political direction, implementation of resolutions and the consolidation of the country’s development agenda.
The COMESA Summit is a regional diplomatic and economic gathering bringing together Heads of State and Government to deliberate on trade, investment, industrialisation and regional integration.
Yet, there is a common thread running through both.
It is implementation.
The ZANU PF conference theme itself makes this clear. The emphasis is on moving from resolutions to results, while the COMESA theme speaks of advancing industrialisation, investment and regional integration.
In other words, both events are about converting policy ambitions into practical outcomes.
This makes the seriousness of preparations particularly significant.
A party preparing to turn resolutions into results
The progress being made in Chinhoyi provides perhaps the clearest indication that ZANU PF is approaching its annual conference as an important point in its political and developmental calendar.
Preparations at Chinhoyi University of Technology, the main conference venue, were reported to be above 80 percent by mid-September, with tents being erected, ablution facilities nearing completion, student accommodation being renovated and water infrastructure receiving attention.
Road rehabilitation in Chinhoyi and surrounding areas has also been prioritised.
More recently, ZANU PF Secretary-General Advocate Jacob Mudenda toured the venue and expressed satisfaction with the progress, although some works remained to be completed.
The party has also set October 6 as the target for completing infrastructure projects, including the sprucing up of Chinhoyi.
This is important because a national conference is ultimately about more than putting up tents and preparing accommodation.
The physical preparations are the visible expression of a broader organisational readiness.
The conference theme demands that party resolutions should translate into programmes capable of improving people’s lives and advancing Vision 2030.
President Mnangagwa reinforced this message at the ZANU PF Politburo meeting this week, saying preparations were pleasing while urging the National Conference Coordination Committee to ensure that all preparatory work was completed on time.
He also emphasised that the conference should move beyond the adoption of resolutions towards their concrete implementation and the acceleration of socio-economic development.
That makes the progress at the conference venue part of a bigger picture.
The party is preparing not simply to meet, but to deliberate on how its political programme can continue to drive Government policy towards Vision 2030.
COMESA preparations show regional responsibility
If Chinhoyi represents the domestic political dimension, Harare represents Zimbabwe’s regional economic responsibility.
Preparations for the COMESA Summit have similarly gathered pace.
Technical inspections have focused on digital connectivity, transport logistics and the readiness of the New Parliament Building, which will host the high-level gathering.
The preparations are being undertaken jointly by Government ministries and the COMESA Secretariat, ensuring that the venue and supporting infrastructure meet the requirements of a summit that will bring regional leaders and their delegations to Zimbabwe.
The signing of the Host Agreement between Zimbabwe and the COMESA Secretariat on September 14 was another important milestone.
COMESA Secretary-General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe said the Secretariat was satisfied with the progress made in preparations following engagements with Zimbabwean officials.
The agreement formally strengthened the institutional framework for hosting the summit, which is scheduled for October 22.
The significance of this preparation cannot be separated from what Zimbabwe is expected to assume at the summit.
The country is set to take over the COMESA chairmanship for the 2026-27 period, placing Zimbabwe at the centre of the bloc’s efforts to advance regional integration.
That responsibility requires more than being a competent host.
It requires the host country to arrive at the summit with a clear understanding of what it wants to achieve.
Government has already indicated that Zimbabwe intends to use the summit to deepen regional trade, attract investment and advance economic integration. The summit is also expected to address industrialisation and regional value chains in areas such as critical minerals, agriculture and manufacturing.
This gives the preparations a strategic dimension.
The Government is not merely preparing a venue for visiting leaders. It is preparing the platform from which Zimbabwe will assume greater responsibility for the regional economic agenda.
Two themes, one development trajectory
The proximity of the two events creates an interesting convergence.
At Chinhoyi, the message is from resolutions to results. In Harare, the message is one market, one future.
Both point towards implementation, economic empowerment, production, investment and development. This convergence is important for Zimbabwe because the domestic development agenda cannot be separated from the regional economic environment.
A country seeking to industrialise, increase production and create opportunities for its citizens requires access to markets, investment and regional value chains.
COMESA offers precisely such a platform.
At the same time, regional ambitions require strong domestic foundations.
There is little value in talking about regional value chains if local industries cannot produce competitively. There is little value in attracting investment if the domestic economy cannot absorb and multiply its benefits.
This is why the two October events can be viewed as complementary rather than competing occasions.
The ZANU PF conference is concerned with the political and developmental machinery driving domestic transformation, while COMESA provides a regional platform through which Zimbabwe can pursue markets, investment and economic partnerships.
Preparation as a statement of intent
The scale of preparations therefore carries a message of its own.
At Chinhoyi, infrastructure being built or upgraded will remain after delegates have left. At the New Parliament Building, technical systems, connectivity and logistical arrangements are being put in place not simply for a ceremonial occasion, but for Zimbabwe’s engagement with regional leaders and institutions.
This is where the idea of “ready to host, ready to deliver” becomes important.
Hosting is the first responsibility.
Delivery is the greater one.
For ZANU PF, delivery means ensuring that resolutions are translated into programmes and that Vision 2030 remains anchored in measurable economic outcomes.
For COMESA, delivery means using Zimbabwe’s chairmanship and the summit platform to advance practical measures that deepen trade, investment, industrialisation and regional integration.
The earnest preparations now under way suggest that Zimbabwe is approaching both responsibilities with the seriousness they demand.
There is still work to be completed. The ZANU PF leadership itself has acknowledged that some infrastructure works remain outstanding, while the COMESA process requires continued coordination across Government departments and with the Secretariat.
But preparation is no longer merely on paper.
The tents are going up in Chinhoyi. Roads and facilities are being upgraded. Water infrastructure is being strengthened. In Harare, technical inspections, connectivity planning, transport arrangements and venue preparations are progressing, while the Host Agreement has formally cemented cooperation between Zimbabwe and COMESA.
These are practical indicators of
