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Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
ZANU-PF is set to accredit delegates for the forthcoming 17th Annual National People’s Conference between 15 and 29 November.

The party’s Politburo set December 10 to 15 as the dates for the conference to be held at Umzingwane Boys’ High School at Esigodini in Matabeleland South province.

The conference, whose theme is “Zimbabwe is Open for Business: In unity and peace towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030”, is expected to attract 5 000 delegates drawn from the country’s 10 provinces.

Zanu-PF Director for Administration, Cde Dickson Dzora said in an interview yesterday: “We are having three teams deployed per province all at once. So the accreditation begins on the 15th and it will end on the 29th of November. We are having district, provincial executive, National Consultative Assembly representatives as well Central Committee and the Politburo members plus supporting staff like security,” said Cde Dzora.

Cde Dzora emphasised that people who would seek to be accredited during the conference will not be entertained.

“We are going to accredit people in their provinces so that when they come here, we don’t have to accredit anyone because we would have finished that.

“We have had problems with accrediting at the venue in the past, a lot more other people who don’t qualify come and besiege the venue and you can’t start on time, then you have all sorts of problems,” he said.

In an interview during his surprise visit to the venue yesterday, Zanu-Pf Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu said:

“Yes there has been some progress in as far as civil works are concerned, but I appeal to those that are involved in civil works to order more equipment and speed up the compacting and levelling of the grounds where people are going to be housed and where cars are going to be parked,” said Cde Mpofu.

“In the advent of the rains we feel that if those things are not done, they will have some challenges of trying to complete the works. But I’m happy, although I would have been happier if things were done in a manner that by now we could be resurfacing and resealing the roads, levelling the ground that cars are going to be parked at and also the venue itself but we hope that would be done.”

Cde Mpofu, who visited the venue as the national and provincial organising teams were having their meeting, said the operators on the ground had assured him that the works will be completed in time.

“You heard assurances I got from the operators on the ground but I will be coming here on a regular basis to check and ensure that we are not found wanting,” he said.

Cde Mpofu said the party’s secretary for Transport and Welfare, Cde July Moyo was mobilising more resources for the works to continue as one of the contractors reportedly demanded 70 percent upfront for commencement of works.

“They will be paid and I’m glad Cde Moyo, the Minister of Local Government and also the Secretary for Transport and Welfare in the party is working on those things, he is on top of the situation that’s what he has assured us that all should be in place by the time the conference takes place,” he said.

Works to be done include road resurfacing, gravelling and widening of Esigodini Tollgate to ease congestion and preparation of venue grounds.

Matabeleland South Provincial Minister, Cde Abednico Ncube assured Cde Mpofu that the works would be complete before conference time.

Party officials said delegates would be accommodated in Esigodini, Filabusi and Bulawayo and 88 buses to transport delegates from all provinces had been secured as well as enough fuel for the conference.

Also present during the preparatory meeting was Zanu-PF Secretary for Security Cde Lovemore Matuke, Members of Parliament from Matabeleland South province and Senator Tambudzani Mohadi.

— @AuxiliaK