News / National
Zanu-PF denies that Sata was invited to its conference
06 Dec 2011 at 05:57hrs | Views
ZAMBIAN President and Patriotic Front leader Mr Michael Sata was never invited to attend Zanu-PF's 12th Annual National People's Conference which begins in Bulawayo on Thursday.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo yesterday dismissed as inaccurate and unfounded reports in the private media suggesting President Sata snubbed the event.
Gumbo said apart from President Sata's Patriotic Front, several other regional political parties that shared the same ideology with Zanu-PF were invited.
Gumbo said it was the duty of President Mugabe to invite a Head of State to such an occasion and not Zanu-PF.
Delegates to the Zanu-PF 12th Annual People's Conference are expected in Bulawayo tomorrow.
Top on the agenda will be indigenisation and agriculture.
Gumbo said the party will also discuss regional and international geo-political developments and the state of the economy.
About 3 000 party delegates are expected to attend the conference, which will be held under the theme "Defend National Sovereignty, Consolidate indigenisation and Economic Empowerment.''
Sources say Zanu-PF will launch its election campaign for general elections set for next year at the conference.
The party's 10 provinces are expected to endorse President Mugabe's candidature for next year's general elections at the conference.
President Mugabe has indicated that elections should be held in the first quarter of next year.
He said the Bulawayo conference was the party's last crucial meeting before the elections.
General elections were supposed to be held this year, but were postponed after Copac failed to complete the crafting of the new constitution.
Parties in the inclusive Government agreed that new elections should be held after the new constitution was in place.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo yesterday dismissed as inaccurate and unfounded reports in the private media suggesting President Sata snubbed the event.
Gumbo said apart from President Sata's Patriotic Front, several other regional political parties that shared the same ideology with Zanu-PF were invited.
Gumbo said it was the duty of President Mugabe to invite a Head of State to such an occasion and not Zanu-PF.
Delegates to the Zanu-PF 12th Annual People's Conference are expected in Bulawayo tomorrow.
Top on the agenda will be indigenisation and agriculture.
Gumbo said the party will also discuss regional and international geo-political developments and the state of the economy.
Sources say Zanu-PF will launch its election campaign for general elections set for next year at the conference.
The party's 10 provinces are expected to endorse President Mugabe's candidature for next year's general elections at the conference.
President Mugabe has indicated that elections should be held in the first quarter of next year.
He said the Bulawayo conference was the party's last crucial meeting before the elections.
General elections were supposed to be held this year, but were postponed after Copac failed to complete the crafting of the new constitution.
Parties in the inclusive Government agreed that new elections should be held after the new constitution was in place.
Source - TH
