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Tinashe Farawo Senior Reporter
ALL is set for Zanu-PF’s 6th National People’s Congress set to be officially opened by the party’s First Secretary and President Mugabe in Harare today. Addressing journalists soon after the party’s 97th Ordinary Session of the Central Committee yesterday, Zanu-PF national chairman and acting spokesperson, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, said delegates were expected to be seated by 10am this morning.

He said the Central Committee deliberated on preparations for the congress that entered its third day today.

“We expected all the delegates to start seating at 8am and by 10am all delegates should be seated,” he said.

Thousands of delegates started arriving for the great indaba yesterday morning amid high expectations that Zanu-PF will emerge stronger and rejuvenated after the gathering.

Delegates from various provinces who spoke to The Herald upon arrival in Harare said the congress should, among other things, rejuvenate the party and deal decisively with rogue elements that were plotting the unconstitutional ouster of President Mugabe.

Harare was a hive of activity as more than 12 000 party delegates from the country’s 10 provinces and foreign dignitaries that included sister liberation movements in the region thronged the city for the congress.

Delegates from the Communist Party of China are also expected to grace the occasion.

Most hotels and lodges were fully booked as of last night while local colleges like Harare Polytechnic and Seke Teacher’s College in Chitungwiza were also packed with delegates.

Cde Paul Mangwana from Masvingo said Zanu-PF was going to emerge stronger.

He said the recent realignment and restructuring of the party over the past few months would ensure the full implementation of the party’s election promises.

“We are going to emerge stronger after the congress, the realignment which was going on will ensure the party will emerge stronger. You need to realise that the restructuring has enabled the party to select competent people to accelerate the implementation of Zim-Asset.”

Cde Mangwana said congress was expected to deal with the implementation of Zim-Asset, the completion of Tokwe-Mukosi Dam and the establishment of more irrigation schemes in the southern parts of the country.

Cde Dickson Mafios from Mashonaland Central, said it was important for the congress to deal with the issue of factionalism so that the party remains stronger and united.

He said; “This congress is the fatal blow to factionalism and believe you me, we are going to emerge stronger.”

A delegate from Mashonaland West, Cde Dexter Nduna said, the congress would usher in new leadership, which would lead the party to greater heights.

“The party obviously will emerge stronger because we are going to have new members of the Politburo and we are going to have total unity in the party because all elements which were meant to divide our party have been dealt with and it is good for the party,” he said.

Cde Energy Mutodi, a delegate from Mashonaland East said all inept and incompetent leaders have been dealt with and it was important for the rejuvenation of the party.

“The most important thing is after this congress all incompetent leaders will not be there and this will help to strengthen the party which had been invaded by charlatans and impostors,” he said.