Unique Zanu PF conference kicks off

Bindura (New Ziana) – The annual conference of the ruling Zanu PF party opened in Bindura, Mashonaland East Province on Friday, two months ahead of traditional time to ensure that its resolutions are captured in next month’s 2022 national budget.
The conference is focusing on both pertinent party and national issues, the former in preparation for general elections due in 2023.
It is traditionally held in December but was shifted to October to ensure that resolutions made at the party conference were incorporated into the national budget which is traditionally presented in November each year.
President Mnangagwa, in his opening address said the hosting of the conference in October was in keeping with resolutions from the previous conference.
“We have convened this year in October as opposed to the traditional December. This was designed to ensure that party resolutions adequately inform the development of the annual national budget,” he said.
“The early hosting of the conference further allows our members to focus on their respective agriculture summer cropping season.”
President Mnangagwa said the conference should provide impetus to the growth and strengthening of the party.
He urged members to guard against complacency and remain united in order to achieve set goals.
” As we convene at this momentous conference, I urge the party to remain united, resilient, focused and hardworking as we continue on our path towards sustainable development, economic growth and prosperity of our people,” he said.
“Zanu PF and all its structures must keep alive its revolutionary ethos, principles and values, patriotism, loyalty and discipline. Hard honest work, unity, peace and development must remain key tenets of all our policies now and into the future.”
President Mnangagwa commended the ruling party structures for organizing the first ever hybrid conference.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Conference is being held in a hybrid format which entails that a few delegates attended physically while others attended virtually.
“I applaud all provinces of the party for facilitating the virtual hosting of this unprecedented event. This conference is convened in line with provisions of article six, subsection (1)(5) of the party constitution which obligates us to meet annually to deliberate on the various issues affecting our party, Zanu PF.
“However, we were unable to meet in 2020 due to the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic which compelled the institution of lockdown and other measures in order to save lives and livelihoods. Presently we still could not convene in the usual format because the threat of the pandemic is still with us, as such only a few delegates will be attending the conference both physically and virtually. The format of the conference brings to the fore the new realities and possibilities associated with the use of ICTs which the party has adopted and embraced, ” he said.
The conference is running under the theme:” Growing and modernizing the economy towards Vision 2030. ”
New Ziana