Mat South identifies venue for Zanu-PF conference

THE ruling Zanu-PF party is considering building new blocks of flats in Gwanda to supplement accommodation for delegates coming for the 17th Zanu-PF National People’s Conference that will be held in the mining town in December, a senior party official said yesterday.

The province is hosting the party’s national indaba where thousands of delegates will descend on Gwanda.

Zanu-PF has already extended an open hand to private house owners in the town to rent out their houses during the conference.

This was revealed by Matabeleland South, Zanu-PF provincial secretary for administration and Umzingwane legislator, Cde William Dewa in his report to the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting at party provincial headquarters in Gwanda.

“The meeting was meant to update members on progress on the preparations of the party’s national people’s conference.

“On accommodation we have made strides as we have backing of districts such as Insiza and Umzingwane. Here in Gwanda we were also considering building new blocks of flats very quickly to be used by delegates during the conference.

“After the conference the flats will not belong to the party but will be given to Gwanda State University for accommodation.

“We are also looking at private houses where people will lease their houses to accommodate other delegates,” said Cde Dewa

He said the party has also acquired a number of accommodation space in Esigodini to accommodate the anticipated overflow delegates.

“We have Mzingwane High School, Esigodini Agricultural College and Public Service Provincial Institution. Falcon College has also offered to accommodate some of our delegates.

“We are yet to meet them and see what they are offering. We have also Mzinyathi Mission, it’s a boarding facility which is about seven kilometres from the highway.

“If need be we have three primary schools and a secondary school in Esigodini town but I don’t think we will reach that position. In Insiza we have Nyanda Lodge and Pangani Vocational College,” he said.

Cde Dewa also said they have engaged farmers in the province to plant vegetables which would be consumed during the duration of the indaba rather than importing them from Harare.

“We had a meeting with the farmers last week and told them to start planting vegetables.

“We have given them the list of vegetables to be eaten during the conference.

“They appreciated that it’s a way of contributing to the conference and also empowering them as the party will be buying from them,” said Cde Dewa.

Speaking at the same meeting, the party’s provincial chairperson, Cde Rabelani Choeni advised that the venue for the conference was now Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED) grounds in Jacaranda suburb.

Initially Phelandaba Stadium was being touted to be the venue before two other venues CMED and Matabeleland South Agriculture Showgrounds were proposed.

“Phelandaba Stadium had no space. We looked at Matabeleland South Agricultural Showgrounds, which also had shortfalls.

“We have now settled for the CMED grounds and the report has been compiled by the technical team and sent to Harare.

“We are now waiting its consideration,” said Cde Choeni.

Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and also Minister of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage, Cde Abednico Ncube urged party members to be united for the good of the party.

“Let’s unite. We are going towards elections but others are busy working on trying to disintegrate the party. Let’s not do that.

“Once we do that the opposition will be celebrating,” said Cde Ncube.

Meanwhile, the party is targeting 203 000 votes in the 2018 harmonised elections in the province as it gears to maintain a clean sheet over the opposition.

The province in 2013 bagged all the 13 constituencies which were previously dominated by the opposition.

This was contained in a report presented to the party’s national commissar, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere on Monday by Cde Choeni.

“In 2013 we got 81 180 votes in this province against the opposition’s 75 301 votes. We are working hard to mobilise our supporters so that come next year we will beat the opposition with a wider margin. We are targeting 203 000 votes in 2018 harmonised elections,” said Cde Choeni as part of his report.

Responding to the report, Cde Kasukuwere said the margin the party won with during 2013 elections was too close for comfort and implored the party leadership to up their game.

“We should open a bigger gap come next year. The opposition is good as dead now. You have told us about your target.

“The burden is on all the leadership in the province to make sure that people are mobilised to go and vote so that we bury the opposition once and for all,” said Cde Kasukuwere.