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Delegates for the zanu-pf 6th Women’s League Conference being accredited at the revolutionary party’s headquarters in Harare yesterday.

Herald Reporters
Zanu-PF’S 6th Women’s League Conference, which begins in Harare today, received a major boost from Vice President Joice Mujuru, well-wishers and corporates which donated an assortment of foodstuffs and regalia for delegates following an appeal for assistance by the wing’s executive.

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The League had earlier approached selected Politburo members — Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, Professor Jonathan Moyo, Cde Patrick Zhuwawo, along with businessman Dr Philip Chiyangwa — to rescue the situation by donating 20 beasts, among other logistics for the event.

The four were approached by Senate President Cde Ednah Madzongwe after she realised that food challenges would affect the smooth flow of the conference after the finance department, led by acting finance secretary and secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa, had failed to make adequate arrangements.

The situation was also rescued by various companies, party officials and well-wishers yesterday who chipped in with food donations for the league’s national conference.

VP Mujuru donated 30 tonnes of maize-meal, 3 500 T-shirts for all provinces, bread for the two breakfasts for all delegates, five tonnes of rice and 20 boxes of eggs, while the corporates weighed in with 3 000 dozen eggs, 1 000 kg chicken, over 55 tonnes maize meal, and 2 500 kg beef.

Irvine’s donated the 3 000 dozen eggs and 1 000 kg chicken, while Bakers Inn delivered 1 000 loaves of bread, with National Foods availing 15 tonnes of roller meal, five tonnes of Pearlenta  maize-meal and five tonnes of rice.

Other companies which donated were Colcom Foods with 425 kg sausages, Carswell Meats – 1 352 kg  beef, Koala Park Abattoir – 1 288 kg beef and Drummond Chickens – 2 000 kg chicken.

The call for donations was necessitated by the embarrassment the party suffered after failing to feed youths delegates prompting  President Mugabe had to use his own resources to fund the Youth League conference that was held in Harare last week when he realised that the officials responsible for logistics had not done their job properly.

President Mugabe said he was donating maize from the nearly 1 000 tonnes he harvested at his farm in Mazowe and between 20 and 30 cattle and products from Gushungo Dairy to feed the delegates.

Addressing journalists after receiving the donations from the companies at the party headquarters, Zanu-PF national chairman Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo said all was set for the Women’s League conference.

“We are on the eve of the 6th Women’s League conference, which begins in earnest tomorrow (today) and of course as a people’s party with massive support across the country, we have received donations and contributions from well wishers,” he said.

“The Vice President (Cde Joice Mujuru) also donated 30 tonnes of maize meal, 3 500 T-shirts for all provinces, bread for the two breakfasts for all delegates, five tonnes of rice and 20 boxes of eggs.”

Ambassador Khaya Moyo said donations were still pouring in and transport logistics were now in place.

Cde Olivia Muchena also showed journalists donations made by women from all the country’s 10 provinces.

“The Women’s League tasked each provincial executive to come up with two tonnes of maize, one carton of cooking oil, 10 kg of rice and other dry stuff and two beasts per province and the provinces have started delivering as you can see,” she said.

In a statement later in the day, Ambassador Khaya Moyo commended the Women’s League leaders for the manner they prepared for the conference.

“The Women’s League executive has indeed led from the front and I wish them well in their future tasks,” he said. “All the well wishers who have made enormous contributions in cash and kind towards the holding of this conference are recognised and profusely thanked.

“I particularly wish to thank the Vice President and Second Secretary of our party Cde Joice Mujuru, Cde Ednah Madzongwe’s committee and some members of the Politburo, Central Committee and many other patriotic citizens for their generous contributions.”

Ambassador Khaya Moyo dismissed reports of kidnappings of women in some provinces ahead of the conference made by Women’s League Secretary Cde Oppah Muchinguri on Monday.

“I must hasten to say that yesterday’s (Tuesday) media reports that a number of kidnappings associated with the conference have taken place in Mashonaland Central, Manicaland and Masvingo provinces have proven false and alarmist,” he said.

“I appeal to the leadership of the Women’s League to refrain from making such unfounded statements. The nation is at peace.”

Delegates began arriving yesterday while accreditation went on smooothly at the party headquarters.