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Kuda Bwititi in Victoria Falls
THE hosting of the ongoing National People’s Conference by Matabeleland North Province will help to consolidate party support in the region ahead of the next harmonised election, Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Richard Moyo has said. Formerly a stronghold of the MDC formations, Matabeleland North is one of the provinces that saw Zanu-PF outwit the opposition after winning the majority of parliamentary seats in the 2013 elections.

In his welcome remarks to delegates at the conference yesterday, Cde Moyo said the revolutionary party was poised to trounce the opposition MDC formations in the next elections.

He said the resounding victory by Professor Jonathan Moyo in the recent Tsholotsho North constituency by-election was proof that Zanu-PF was gaining ground.

“Your Excellency, Matabeleland North Province has 13 National Assembly constituencies and Zanu-PF controls eight of those constituencies.

“MDCs are still holding on to five constituencies, these being two in Binga District, two in Hwange District and the other being Nkayi South constituency. We are working round the clock to regain those constituencies in the next elections as witnessed by the recent resounding victory in Tsholotsho North by-election. We are not shaken by the MDC’s empty promises which are hollow in essence.”

Cde Moyo said the party was angling for a clean sweep of all the 18 National Assembly seats in the 2018 elections.

“As you may be aware, Your Excellency, that Victoria Falls town is now a liberated zone from the colonial sponsored-opposition party, although the majority of the municipality councillors are pro-MDC, the Mayor and the National Assembly member are both Zanu-PF members. We are proud of that achievement and pledge that in the 2018 harmonised elections, we shall win all the available parliamentary and local government seats.”

The Zanu-PF Matabeleland provincial chairman said the several mega projects which are being undertaken in the province in line with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation, are set to generate employment and bring immense benefits to people living in the area.

Some of the projects include the building of a $3 billion thermal power station by a French consortium Pan African Engineering Resources, the revival of Kamativi Mine which is earmarked to receive $100 million capital injection from a Chinese firm, coal exploration by Monaf Investment Company, gas exploration and expansion of Hwange Power Plant among others.

Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Ambassador Cain Mathema said it was hugely significant that the conference was being held in Victoria Falls.

“Zanu-PF belongs to all of us together. Not as individuals, each alone, not even as individual tribes, nor as regions, nor as groupings of regions. But as one bee hive that produces the sweetest of honey that nourishes our people come rain or shine. We are the party and it’s Government that have given us Zim-Asset.”

Ambassador Mathema said owing to President Mugabe’s leadership, Zanu-PF is the only party that provides meaningful benefits to the people.

The Zanu-PF National People’s Conference is the second major party event to be held in Victoria Falls after the tourist town also hosted the 21st February Movements celebrations earlier this year.