THE Zanu PF annual conference kicks off today in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s backyard, Midlands province, with delegates from the country’s 10 provinces arriving for the two-day event.
At least 3 000 delegates are expected to attend after the ruling party slashed the number of attendees from 5 000 to manage costs.
There was a hive of activity yesterday in Gweru, the host city, with accommodation facilities in the city fully booked.
Zanu PF bigwigs were on show with their top-of-the-range vehicles in the City of Progress amid a sea of poverty.
There was also a heavy security presence to ensure Zanu PF and government officials enjoyed a comfortable stay.
Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said the conference was being co-ordinated by the party’s national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri’s office.
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Zanu PF national political commissar Mike Bimha said Mnangagwa will officially open the conference today.
Mnangagwa, who is in his second and final term, is expected to lay out his five-year vision to party members for the first time after his re-election.
“This conference is also special as it has come at a time after our resounding 2023 elections and this will be our major highlight at the conference,” Bimha said.
Zanu PF is also expected to use the opportunity to craft campaign strategies to wrest some seats from the opposition in the upcoming by-elections.
The by-elections were necessitated by the recall of 15 Members of Parliament and 17 councillors belonging to the Citizens Coalition for Change by the party’s self-proclaimed interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu.