Serious business at Zanu PF Annual Conference
New airport for Manicaland
MANICALAND has identified land for the construction of a new airport as part of initiatives to lure investors and tourists to the majestic province, The Manica Post has established.
Manicaland is endowed with an assortment of minerals, timber and tea estates, tourism facilities as well as adequate water for agriculture, among other natural resources.
However, its major undoing has been the lack of an airport that facilitates faster shipping times for goods, improved access to international markets and increased tourism opportunities.
Airports also provide a range of services such as banking, postal and transportation services. In an interview on the sidelines of a Brand Zimbabwe consultative meeting in Mutare on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza said the province has vast opportunities that can grow its economy.
“We have outstanding centres for tourism, timber and minerals and we need to put everything together, package and sell it out so that investors are spoilt for choice.
“Strategic infrastructure like roads and airports are crucial. To that end, land has been identified for the construction of a new airport.
“Initially, the land had been identified at Grand Reef near Odzi, but certain technical issues caused its abandonment and compelled us to look for another place.
“Fortunately there is very good flat land in Mutasa South and all efforts are being made to get things together and ensure that airport project takes off,” he said.
“I am also glad to say the Christmas Pass Bypass Road work is now at an advanced stage, very soon we will have a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the beginning of its construction. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is already in place and the partner is ready to commence work. We are left with putting a few logistical arrangements in place for the construction work to take-off.
‘‘When you have a good road network, everything else will fall into place,” he said. Minister Mugadza said the Brand
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ECONOMIC, re-industrialisation, war veterans and women affairs, as well as consolidating the gains made so far are among the key resolutions to be tabled by ZANU PF Manicaland during the ongoing revolutionary party’s 20th National People’s Conference in Gweru.
The resolutions are meant to ensure that the country continues on its growth trajectory to attain Vision 2030.
About 200 delegates from Manicaland were accredited to attend the National People’s Conference which comes at a time when the ruling party is basking in the glory of the August 23 harmonised elections landslide victory.
The annual conference kicked off early this week, with the Politburo meeting on Tuesday, while the Central Committee meeting was held on Wednesday.
Proceedings moved to Gweru yesterday (Thursday) as delegates started arriving for the indaba.
The ruling party’s First Secretary, President Mnangagwa will officially open the annual conference today (Friday), with proceedings ending tomorrow.
President Mnangagwa early this week set the tone of what is expected from the party membership during the Gweru indaba which is running under the theme ‘Towards Vision 2030 through Devolution, Industrialisation and Modernisation’.
Addressing the 370th ordinary session of the Politburo in Harare early this week, President Mnangagwa said: “This 20th National People’s Conference cannot be business as usual, but must result in qualitative policy guidance and direction to our party’s internal structures as well as those of Government.
“It is my expectation that this theme has been shared with all party structures and other stakeholders, to allow for broader insights and comprehensive resolutions.
“ZANU PF entrenches constitutionalism, procedures and rules. We are a party of discipline and order. Our proven organisational capacity must provide the requisite bedrock and guidance as we finalise the hosting of a successful 20th National People’s Conference.
“The conference must review the progress being made in the implementation of policies and programmes for the consistent socio-economic growth trajectory of our country. I hope all departments of the party will focus on self-improvement in accordance with the mandates as outlined in our party constitution,”said the President.
In an interview, ZANU PF Manicaland provincial chairman, Cde Tawanda Mukodza said robust deliberations at the conference are expected.
“About 200 delegates from Manicaland were accredited. We want to ensure robustness of all deliberations.
“As Manicaland, we came up with a number of resolutions and the major highlights are the state of the party following our landslide victory during the August 23 harmonised elections, the state of the economy, re-industrialisation, war veterans and women’s affairs, as well as the supremacy of the party.
“We are not going to be tourists in Gweru, but we will come up with concrete resolutions that will take the country and economy forward.
‘‘Elections are now behind us, and people’s welfare should take centre stage in all