Zimpapers Logo

Zanu-PF delegates from all the country’s 10 provinces are expected to arrive at Goromonzi High School, Mashonaland East Province, today for the 18th Zanu-PF Annual People’s Conference.

The main thrust of discussions at the conference will be the state of the economy, with mining being a pivotal industry in this regard, and food security as it relates to the modernisation and mechanisation of agriculture.

More than 10 000 delegates are expected to grace the event.

The conference will run under the theme: “Modernise, Mechanise and Grow the Economy towards Vision 2030”.

When The Herald visited the conference venue yesterday, it was a hive of activity especially on the exhibition side, where companies are already showcasing their products.

Zanu-PF Mashonaland East secretary for finance and economic development Cde Munyaradzi Kashambe, who was manning the venue, said they were ready to receive the delegates.

“We have sent out 90 buses to various districts and provinces to ferry our delegates. We hope that most of the delegates will be here tomorrow ahead of the official opening of the conference by the First Secretary of the party, President Mnangagwa on Friday,” he said.

Cde Kashambe said more than 500 people from the surrounding communities have been honoured to attend the first session of the conference.

“The party has honoured the local community, since they are the hosts, we expect them to come in their numbers. More than 500 locals alone will be allowed to be part of the first session. After that we will only remain with accredited delegates.

“We urged the local community to exhibit the highest level of discipline to ensure peace and tranquillity during the course of the conference,” said Cde Kashambe.

Provincial youth chairman Cde Kelvin Mutsvairo said the provincial youth league and the other wings of the party will be stationed at Goromonzi turn-off to receive the delegates today.

“We want everyone to feel at home during the conference,” he said.

He challenged the youths to be disciplined during the course of the conference.

“Youths are the future leaders of tomorrow so they need to be at their best behaviour,’’ he said.

In terms of resource mobilisation, Cde Kashambe said they had enough food to feed the delegates.

“We have enough beef, chickens, bread, and sugar among other foodstuffs.  We have just received five buffaloes and five impalas from the business community to feed the delegates during the conference,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Zanu-PF Diaspora Youth League led by Cde Salome Eric from Zanu-PF UK branch yesterday launched its fruit tree planting programme at Goromonzi.

The programme, which will be rolled out to different parts of the country, is expected to safeguard the environment and empower the locals ahead of the conference.

The party’s provincial secretary for education, Cde Ndichatsiva Pote, who is also a local businessman, commended the launch saying the fruit tree planting will go a long way in capacitating the locals.

“As the business community, we hope the conference will address the challenges affecting the youth since they are the backbone of the country’s economy,” said Cde   Pote.

Some of the key issues on the agenda of the conference include devolution, food security, social services, macro-economic stability, inclusive growth, infrastructure development, as well as value addition and ben eficiation.

In line with President Mnangagwa’s enunciation that in the Second Republic the party has supremacy over Government, Zanu-PF is expected to come up with key economic decisions to be tabled before Government for implementation.