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Minister Moyo

Harare Bureau
Preparations for the 6th Zanu-PF National People’s Congress to be held in Harare next week are at an advanced stage, with service providers putting final touches, while accreditation of about 12,200 delegates is almost complete. President Mugabe will tour the venue at the Harare city civic grounds on Monday to assess progress in time for the arrival of delegates.

Briefing journalists at the venue yesterday, Zanu-PF national chairperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said preparations for the congress were almost complete.

“I’ve invited the President to visit the venue on Monday at 3PM where I’m sure you’re invited,” he said. “We’re going to have 12,200 delegates to the congress. Accreditation of the delegates has already been done in their respective provinces and 95 percent of the delegates have so far been accredited.

“A mop up accreditation exercise will be done at the party headquarters to deal with the remaining five percent of the delegates on the day they’ll come for the congress.”

Cde Khaya Moyo, as has become the norm since he was recently appointed acting party spokesperson following the booting out of Cde Rugare Gumbo, declined to field questions despite earlier indications by national political commissar Cde Webster Shamu that journalists would be given an opportunity to ask questions.

The congress, said Cde Khaya Moyo, will kick off with a Politburo meeting on Tuesday, followed by a Central Committee meeting on Wednesday that will coincide with the arrival of delegates.

Cde Khaya Moyo said Thursday would mark the official opening of the congress which would run until Saturday before people leave on Sunday.

He said a significant number of invited foreign delegates had confirmed their participation.

They include African National Congress of South Africa, Chama Cha Mapinduzi of Tanzania, Frelimo of Mozambique, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement of South Sudan, Communist Party of China, Malawi Congress Party and the December 12th Movement from the United States.

Cde Khaya Moyo described the congress as a milestone which he said would be a packed event.

“As you know congress meets once after every five years, a lot would have happened in the previous five years and also a lot will be expected to be deliberated on as plans, programmes and activities for the next five years,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

“Most notably, the congress will chart a new economic order in line with our ZimAsset programme. This is amply demonstrated by the theme chosen for this congress that reads: ‘Accelerated Implementation of ZimAsset’. The congress will also usher in a new leadership that’ll carry the party forward in the next five years.”

Cde Khaya Moyo said there had been considerable facelift on the Harare civic centre grounds, which he said previously was plain land without any infrastructure on it.

“The place has now changed dramatically since the party started to develop it two months ago in preparation for our congress,” he said. “Onsite service roads have been constructed here as you can see.

“Compacting of the roads and strengthening of storm water drains is still in progress, but we expect this will be completed in good time for our congress,” he said.

On transport, Cde Khaya Moyo said a total of 158 buses had been contracted to ferry delegates and would be deployed in a manner that would enable them to reach all people in the districts.

The run-up to the congress has seen some party big wigs either failing to retain their Central Committee seats or being barred from contesting over allegations of fanning factionalism and plotting to unseat President Mugabe.

Vice President Joice Mujuru has been fingered in the plot together with her cabal like Politburo members Cdes Nicholas Goche, Didymus Mutasa, Dzikamai Mavhaire and Tendai Savanhu.