News / National
Zanu-PF Congress roars into life
03 Dec 2014 at 00:55hrs | Views
President Mugabe greets and shares pleasantaries with Politburo members before the start of the meeting which marked the beginning of the 6th National People's Congress in Harare yesterday
THE majority of Zanu-PF provinces have raised substantial amounts of money to bankroll the 6th National People's Congress that started yesterday and are confident of meeting their targets by Thursday.
The 10 provinces were each given $150 000 targets, but some have since collected more.
Besides cash the provinces also mobilised cattle, goats, chickens, maize, bread, rice, maize-meal to feed the over 12 000 delegates expected to attend the watershed congress.
The congress, which roared into life yesterday had all the 10 provinces unanimously endorsing President Mugabe to lead the party as First Secretary and President.
The provinces also unanimously re-affirmed their support for First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe to take over as the party's secretary for Women's Affairs.
Four chairpersons are coming to the congress as substantive leaders, while the other six will be representing the provinces in an acting capacity.
Harare, Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland North and Bulawayo have substantive chairpersons.
Former Zanu-PF Harare provincial secretary for administration, Goodwills Masimirembwa, bounced back in the party structures on Monday after he was co-opted as the substantive chairperson for the province.
He was co-opted to fill in the vacant post in terms of Article 29 section 250 of the party's constitution.
Section 250 stipulates that any office which falls vacant in any organ of the party, other than the central committee ,shall be filled by co-option by the executive council-committee of the appropriate organ until the next election.
Masimirembwa took over from Christopher Chigumba who was the acting chair.
Chigumba was sacked by the provincial executive council on Monday on allegations of fanning factionalism and vote buying together with Noah Mangondo, Tendai Savanhu, Munyaradzi Banda and Bonface Karoro.
Masimirembwa will be deputised by Robert Kahanana.
Zanu-PF Masvingo elected Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators chairman Pupurai Togarepi to be its chairman taking over from Paradzai Chakona who was has been acting since the ouster of Callisto Gwanetsa.
In Mashonaland Central, Dickson Mafios bounced back as provincial chairman at the weekend after he was co-opted into the provincial executive following the elevation of some members into the Central Committee.
Professor Callistus Ndlovu bounced back as Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson after the Politburo last week reversed a flawed no-confidence vote passed on him and his executive recently.
Matabeleland North chairperson Richard Moyo did not face any no confidence vote.
Chairpersons who will be at the Congress on an interim basis are Cdes Phineas Chihota (Mashonaland East), Rapelang Choene (Matabeleland South), Kizito Chivamba (Midlands), Ziyambi Ziyambi (Mashonaland West), Samuel Undenge (Manicaland) and Paradzai Chakona (Masvingo).
The 10 provinces managed to mobilise slightly over $ 1 million for the Congress.
Some of the provinces have exceeded their targets while others were by yesterday struggling to meet their targets.
Mashonaland Central provincial chairman Mafios, said by yesterday over $56 000 had been raised.
"The remainder are pledges and we are making a follow up to ensure by end of day tomorrow (today) we meet our target of $150 000," said Mafios.
He said apart from cash, the province had so far mobilised nine cattle, 3.5 tonnes of maize and 600 chickens among others.
Mafiosi said the province had resolved to recommend President Mugabe as the First Secretary and President of the party.
"We have also agreed as a province that President R G Mugabe be our sole candidate for the 2018 harmonised elections," said Mafios.
Manicaland acting chairman Samuel Undenge, said the province would exceed the target after they mobilised $131 000 cash and pledges amounting to $70 000.
He said they were still caucusing on the fundraising for the congress with a view to make it a better congress.
"We are preparing for the congress. The issue of electing a substantive chairperson is not on our agenda as all the focus is on the Congress," said Undenge.
"We want to go to the Congress as a united province and our resolutions are clear. We stand behind President Mugabe's candidature for the position of the First Secretary and President of the party and the First Lady Dr Amai Grace Mugabe to lead the Women's League."
Harare province had $30 000 in its account by yesterday and would be able to know the exact figure raised after reconciling their books today.
The fundraising team also managed to mobilise close to 3,5 tonnes of rice, 20 tonnes of maize-meal and 5000 loaves of bread to feed the delegates.
"We would be able to know how much is in our coffers tomorrow," said provincial finance secretary Dumisani Chipango.
The province, he said, had unanimously agreed to have President Mugabe and the First Lady lead the party and the Women's League.
Mashonaland West province exceeded the target by raising $200 000.
The provincial acting chairman Ziyambi said each National Assembly member donated a tonne of maize. The province, he said, also managed to mobilise 20 herd of cattle and an assortment of other small things.
Ziyambi said the province was yet to choose a substantive chairperson and that would be done at the appropriate time.
"At the moment we are pre-occupied with work at hand," said Ziyambi. "When time comes people will look for an appropriate person to lead the province."
Ziyambi said the province had a Congress co-ordinating committee meeting on Saturday where they finalised the list for Central Committee Members.
"The only notable changes were that of (Webster) Shamu, (Sylvester) Nguni and (Reuben) Marumahoko, who were removed from the list for various reasons," said Ziyambi.
"We also resolved to give President Mugabe the mandate to lead until 2018, endorsing him as the First Secretary and President of the party. We also re-affirmed our support of the First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe to lead the women's affairs as the Secretary of the Women's League."
Ziyambi further said the province was calling for the amendment of the party constitution to allow President Mugabe to choose his deputies.
"We also want those who have votes of no confidence passed against them not to be allowed to attend the Congress and disciplinary action taken against them."
Masvingo province managed to raise nearly $64 000 against a target of $200 000.
Zanu-PF provincial secretary for Administration Ezra Chadzamira, said besides the cash, Masvingo had also managed to mobilise 23 herd of cattle and 25 impalas.
Chadzamira, who is also the Masvingo West National Assembly Member said the provincial fund-raising committee also managed to raise several bags of fish and maize-meal to feed delegates.
The cash was donated by companies such as Bikita Minerals and Lowveld sugar producer Tongaat Huletts that chipped in with $20 000 apiece and from individuals contributions by party members and well-wishers.
Zanu-PF Matabeleland North managed to surpass the required $150 000 target.
Bulawayo and Matabeleland South provinces failed to meet the target.
Each province was required to raise $150 000, eight beasts and five tonnes of maize towards the hosting of the Congress.
However, all the provinces confirmed that their delegates would be travelling to Harare this morning since transport had been arranged.
Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Moyo, said they managed to raise more than $150 000, some beasts and the maize.
Politburo members, Professor Jonathan Moyo and Dr Obert Mpofu raised more than $180 000 between them.
"We have raised more than $200 000 and our plan is to deposit $150 000 to the party's national account. The rest we will channel it towards the construction of our party offices in Lupane," said Moyo.
Commenting on whether or not Politburo members, Cdes Jacob Mudenda and Sithembiso Nyoni would be part of the Matabeleland North delegation attending the Congress, Moyo said:
"We are waiting for response from the Politburo. We indicated to the National Chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo that we wanted to withdraw their names. So we are still to get communication on that."
Dr Mpofu was at the weekend in the eye of a storm over claims that he "unilaterally and unprocedurally" oversaw a plot to withdraw Jacob Mudenda's central committee nomination to aid his bid to land the post of national chairman.
Dozens of placard-waving Zanu-PF supporters from Mpofu's Umguza constituency staged a demonstration in Lupane on Saturday denouncing Cdes Mudenda and Nyoni ahead of an inter-district meeting.
The inter-district meeting had been called to discuss preparations for the Zanu-PF congress which begins tomorrow as well as draw up resolutions to be recommended to the congress.
Moyo said he was already on his way to Harare adding that the rest of the delegates were following him this morning.
Bulawayo ZANU–PF provincial secretary for finance Charles Chiponda said they had managed to raise slightly above $56 000.
"I can't give you the exact figure because some people and companies are still donating. But as of Saturday we had about $56 000 in our coffers," he said.
Chiponda could not give the exact number of beasts or tonnes of maize they had also raised for the Congress.
"We have some beasts yes and we have raised enough maize for the Congress," said the Bulawayo provincial secretary for finance.
He said the acting chairperson; Dube was already in Harare.
"The rest of the delegates are leaving tomorrow (today) morning. Transport is there," said Chiponda.
He said he was not sure of the status of the ousted chairman Professor Ndlovu and George Mlala since Dube had gone to Congress as acting chairperson of the province.
Matabeleland South acting chairperson Choene, while confirming that delegates would be leaving for Congress this morning, he could not give the amount raised or the number of delegates who have been accredited.
"I am in a meeting now, call later" he said.
The Midlands and Mashonaland East provinces' figures could not established yesterday.
The revolutionary party is targeting to raise $8 million for the indaba that is held every five years.
The 10 provinces were each given $150 000 targets, but some have since collected more.
Besides cash the provinces also mobilised cattle, goats, chickens, maize, bread, rice, maize-meal to feed the over 12 000 delegates expected to attend the watershed congress.
The congress, which roared into life yesterday had all the 10 provinces unanimously endorsing President Mugabe to lead the party as First Secretary and President.
The provinces also unanimously re-affirmed their support for First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe to take over as the party's secretary for Women's Affairs.
Four chairpersons are coming to the congress as substantive leaders, while the other six will be representing the provinces in an acting capacity.
Harare, Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland North and Bulawayo have substantive chairpersons.
Former Zanu-PF Harare provincial secretary for administration, Goodwills Masimirembwa, bounced back in the party structures on Monday after he was co-opted as the substantive chairperson for the province.
He was co-opted to fill in the vacant post in terms of Article 29 section 250 of the party's constitution.
Section 250 stipulates that any office which falls vacant in any organ of the party, other than the central committee ,shall be filled by co-option by the executive council-committee of the appropriate organ until the next election.
Masimirembwa took over from Christopher Chigumba who was the acting chair.
Chigumba was sacked by the provincial executive council on Monday on allegations of fanning factionalism and vote buying together with Noah Mangondo, Tendai Savanhu, Munyaradzi Banda and Bonface Karoro.
Masimirembwa will be deputised by Robert Kahanana.
Zanu-PF Masvingo elected Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators chairman Pupurai Togarepi to be its chairman taking over from Paradzai Chakona who was has been acting since the ouster of Callisto Gwanetsa.
In Mashonaland Central, Dickson Mafios bounced back as provincial chairman at the weekend after he was co-opted into the provincial executive following the elevation of some members into the Central Committee.
Professor Callistus Ndlovu bounced back as Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson after the Politburo last week reversed a flawed no-confidence vote passed on him and his executive recently.
Matabeleland North chairperson Richard Moyo did not face any no confidence vote.
Chairpersons who will be at the Congress on an interim basis are Cdes Phineas Chihota (Mashonaland East), Rapelang Choene (Matabeleland South), Kizito Chivamba (Midlands), Ziyambi Ziyambi (Mashonaland West), Samuel Undenge (Manicaland) and Paradzai Chakona (Masvingo).
The 10 provinces managed to mobilise slightly over $ 1 million for the Congress.
Some of the provinces have exceeded their targets while others were by yesterday struggling to meet their targets.
Mashonaland Central provincial chairman Mafios, said by yesterday over $56 000 had been raised.
"The remainder are pledges and we are making a follow up to ensure by end of day tomorrow (today) we meet our target of $150 000," said Mafios.
He said apart from cash, the province had so far mobilised nine cattle, 3.5 tonnes of maize and 600 chickens among others.
Mafiosi said the province had resolved to recommend President Mugabe as the First Secretary and President of the party.
"We have also agreed as a province that President R G Mugabe be our sole candidate for the 2018 harmonised elections," said Mafios.
Manicaland acting chairman Samuel Undenge, said the province would exceed the target after they mobilised $131 000 cash and pledges amounting to $70 000.
He said they were still caucusing on the fundraising for the congress with a view to make it a better congress.
"We are preparing for the congress. The issue of electing a substantive chairperson is not on our agenda as all the focus is on the Congress," said Undenge.
"We want to go to the Congress as a united province and our resolutions are clear. We stand behind President Mugabe's candidature for the position of the First Secretary and President of the party and the First Lady Dr Amai Grace Mugabe to lead the Women's League."
Harare province had $30 000 in its account by yesterday and would be able to know the exact figure raised after reconciling their books today.
The fundraising team also managed to mobilise close to 3,5 tonnes of rice, 20 tonnes of maize-meal and 5000 loaves of bread to feed the delegates.
"We would be able to know how much is in our coffers tomorrow," said provincial finance secretary Dumisani Chipango.
The province, he said, had unanimously agreed to have President Mugabe and the First Lady lead the party and the Women's League.
Mashonaland West province exceeded the target by raising $200 000.
The provincial acting chairman Ziyambi said each National Assembly member donated a tonne of maize. The province, he said, also managed to mobilise 20 herd of cattle and an assortment of other small things.
"At the moment we are pre-occupied with work at hand," said Ziyambi. "When time comes people will look for an appropriate person to lead the province."
Ziyambi said the province had a Congress co-ordinating committee meeting on Saturday where they finalised the list for Central Committee Members.
"The only notable changes were that of (Webster) Shamu, (Sylvester) Nguni and (Reuben) Marumahoko, who were removed from the list for various reasons," said Ziyambi.
"We also resolved to give President Mugabe the mandate to lead until 2018, endorsing him as the First Secretary and President of the party. We also re-affirmed our support of the First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe to lead the women's affairs as the Secretary of the Women's League."
Ziyambi further said the province was calling for the amendment of the party constitution to allow President Mugabe to choose his deputies.
"We also want those who have votes of no confidence passed against them not to be allowed to attend the Congress and disciplinary action taken against them."
Masvingo province managed to raise nearly $64 000 against a target of $200 000.
Zanu-PF provincial secretary for Administration Ezra Chadzamira, said besides the cash, Masvingo had also managed to mobilise 23 herd of cattle and 25 impalas.
Chadzamira, who is also the Masvingo West National Assembly Member said the provincial fund-raising committee also managed to raise several bags of fish and maize-meal to feed delegates.
The cash was donated by companies such as Bikita Minerals and Lowveld sugar producer Tongaat Huletts that chipped in with $20 000 apiece and from individuals contributions by party members and well-wishers.
Zanu-PF Matabeleland North managed to surpass the required $150 000 target.
Bulawayo and Matabeleland South provinces failed to meet the target.
Each province was required to raise $150 000, eight beasts and five tonnes of maize towards the hosting of the Congress.
However, all the provinces confirmed that their delegates would be travelling to Harare this morning since transport had been arranged.
Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Moyo, said they managed to raise more than $150 000, some beasts and the maize.
Politburo members, Professor Jonathan Moyo and Dr Obert Mpofu raised more than $180 000 between them.
"We have raised more than $200 000 and our plan is to deposit $150 000 to the party's national account. The rest we will channel it towards the construction of our party offices in Lupane," said Moyo.
Commenting on whether or not Politburo members, Cdes Jacob Mudenda and Sithembiso Nyoni would be part of the Matabeleland North delegation attending the Congress, Moyo said:
"We are waiting for response from the Politburo. We indicated to the National Chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo that we wanted to withdraw their names. So we are still to get communication on that."
Dr Mpofu was at the weekend in the eye of a storm over claims that he "unilaterally and unprocedurally" oversaw a plot to withdraw Jacob Mudenda's central committee nomination to aid his bid to land the post of national chairman.
Dozens of placard-waving Zanu-PF supporters from Mpofu's Umguza constituency staged a demonstration in Lupane on Saturday denouncing Cdes Mudenda and Nyoni ahead of an inter-district meeting.
The inter-district meeting had been called to discuss preparations for the Zanu-PF congress which begins tomorrow as well as draw up resolutions to be recommended to the congress.
Moyo said he was already on his way to Harare adding that the rest of the delegates were following him this morning.
Bulawayo ZANU–PF provincial secretary for finance Charles Chiponda said they had managed to raise slightly above $56 000.
"I can't give you the exact figure because some people and companies are still donating. But as of Saturday we had about $56 000 in our coffers," he said.
Chiponda could not give the exact number of beasts or tonnes of maize they had also raised for the Congress.
"We have some beasts yes and we have raised enough maize for the Congress," said the Bulawayo provincial secretary for finance.
He said the acting chairperson; Dube was already in Harare.
"The rest of the delegates are leaving tomorrow (today) morning. Transport is there," said Chiponda.
He said he was not sure of the status of the ousted chairman Professor Ndlovu and George Mlala since Dube had gone to Congress as acting chairperson of the province.
Matabeleland South acting chairperson Choene, while confirming that delegates would be leaving for Congress this morning, he could not give the amount raised or the number of delegates who have been accredited.
"I am in a meeting now, call later" he said.
The Midlands and Mashonaland East provinces' figures could not established yesterday.
The revolutionary party is targeting to raise $8 million for the indaba that is held every five years.
Source - The Herald
