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Cde Ignatius Chombo

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
ZANU-PF Secretary for Administration Cde Ignatius Chombo has said the party has been infiltrated by divisive elements ahead of next month’s 15th Annual National People’s Conference. The conference is slated for December 7 to 13. Addressing members of the organising committee and the business community at a preparatory meeting for the conference in the resort town on Sunday, Cde Chombo said the revolutionary party had been infiltrated by divisive elements he referred to as NATO (Nothing At all but Talk Only elements).

“I’am tired of NATO, ” said Cde Chombo without elaborating. He said the party was aware of a stampede by individuals to get membership so that they can visit Victoria Falls town for “holiday” during the conference. “I understand Victoria Falls town is a holiday resort and everyone wants to be here but I want to warn those who want to cheat to be careful,” said the Secretary for Administration.

Cde Chombo said as a pre-cautionary measure, none of the delegates will be allocated a room without his signature. “Don’t allocate any room to a list that hasn’t been signed by the provincial chairman (for each of the 10 provinces), Cde Kasukuwere (Saviour-national political commissar) and most importantly by me. Anything other than that is fake,” he said.

Cde Chombo and fellow Politburo member, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (Secretary for Transport and Welfare) were in Victoria Falls to assess progress ahead of the conference. Added Cde Chombo: “I’m going to brief the Head of State on the state of preparations.”

Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said the party was ready to ferry delegates from all provinces to the venue. About 6,500 delegates are expected to attend the conference. Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said each bus would have a party liaison officer to coordinate issues.

“We’ll be meeting transport officials so that each bus has a party representative to monitor the ferrying of people. Each of the buses has been fitted with tracking devices for surveillance,” she said.

Matabeleland North Province on Saturday held a fundraising dinner where the finance committee led by Cde Sithembiso Nyoni raised $46,000 cash, 10 beasts and other items. The target for each province is $50,000.

Provincial chairman Cde Richard Moyo said preparations were on course and most of the work was almost complete. “Tents are already there while work on access roads and parking area is 95 percent complete,” he said. According to the progress reports presented by respective committees, preparations are more than 90 percent complete.

There will be mobile clinics and four ambulances, Zinwa has undertaken to ensure enough water supplies for the period, electricity connections have been fitted on site while hotels and lodges will start allocating rooms this week.

Tents and buses will be colour-coded according to provinces. Delegates will also be colour-coded according to their positions in the party, with Politburo members having red stickers on their accreditation cards and cars while members of the Central Committee’s colour will be green, said Muchinguri-Kashiri.