News / Regional
Mugabe's Zanu-PF on intruder alert at Vic Falls conference
11 Dec 2015 at 05:28hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe arrived here yesterday for the 15th Zanu-PF Annual People's conference that he officially opens today amid indications that there will be tight security to guard against infiltrators. He touched down at the Victoria Falls International Airport at 7pm accompanied by the First Lady Grace Mugabe.
Earlier yesterday, Central Committee and Politburo members landed in the resort town to join fellow party members who also arrived from the 10 provinces for the conference to be attended by more than 5,000 delegates. Running under the theme, "Consolidating People's Power Through Zim-Asset," the conference started on Monday with the holding of a Politburo meeting and that of the Central Committee on Wednesday.
Speaking ahead of today's official opening, Zanu-PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere warned cadres fanning factionalism that they would be expelled like their predecessors.
"We've made it clear," he said, "that if you dabble in factional politics and if you become a destabilising force in the party because of pursuing factionalist agenda, we will deal with you and that's the reason why some have been suspended while others have been expelled."
He said the party would be on the lookout for opposition agents who intend to spy on the party.
"Security is tight. We'll not allow those who're not accredited or those who are fishing. We won't allow MDC agents to come and spy on us. The delegates who are coming from the provinces must be bonafide delegates so we will make sure that the security is tight so that we don't have imposters who are coming here on a fishing expedition in the party," said Kasukuwere.
He said those who had been expelled from the party for various transgressions would not be allowed in the conference. This was after Batsirai Musona, former Mashonaland Central secretary for security and former provincial youth chairperson Godfrey Tsenengamu who were expelled and suspended from the party were spotted in the resort town yesterday.
"Zanu-PF is the party, even those who're expelled want to be close to the party. What matters is to be disciplined because if we expel you, you still can't miss Zanu-PF events. Now they will be watching from hotels nearby. They wish they were in, that's why we want the people with discipline in otherwise if you've indiscipline, we will expel you," said Kasukuwere.
He called on members to respect party decisions or face censure. "That's how organisations work. We've built a political organisation with discipline and once you build a party with discipline, you won't fail because if you give instructions and commands they will be followed. We will simply ensure that we maintain maximum discipline in the party," said Kasukuwere.
He said the party was growing stronger, gaining more seats in recent by-elections. "Politically, we're on firm ground and solidly behind the leadership of President Mugabe. We're mobilising support across the length and breadth of our country for our party to remain, which it will, the dominant political player in Zimbabwe," said Kasukuwere.
"We've set our targets, on the urban centres, we've been able to increase our seats in the city of Harare in terms of numbers, and we also have five seats in Bulawayo which is a first in over a decade-and-a-half. Last time we had seats in Bulawayo was before 2000, now we have five and we're headed for another one next week on the 19th of December.
"The political machinery is standing and like we promised you the first day that this is the political machinery and it moves like a juggernaut and you can't stop it. We're continuing to grow the party in leaps and bounds. In Harare the party has grown in huge numbers, districts are being set up."
Kasukuwere said the people's belief in the leadership of President Mugabe and Zanu-PF has grown tremendously, "and we want to remain solidly united behind our leadership and ensure that the objectives of our party to deliver a better day, services, to improve the economy is achieved.
"This is what we're here to be discussing at this conference where we take stock of the year's events, our problems, the challenges and the failures that we encountered and rejuvenate the troops as they go back to the various areas to brief the people on what the party is doing, what the party has done and where we are going," said Kasukuwere.
"The party has faith in our people; the land reform programme is a done deal. What remains now, is to ensure that we put this land to maximum use and that will be done as we create the national irrigation policy to develop and strengthen the use of our rivers, dams, ensuring that all the dams we have provide food and sustenance of our people."
Kasukuwere said the conference also comes at a time when the party and government is making serious headway in terms of the economy. He said the new airport in Victoria Falls has been completed and will be officially opened by the President. Economically, Kasukuwere said, the ministry of finance has been doing a good job reengaging the international community.
He said the recent visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping shows efforts President Mugabe is making to get the Zim-Asset goals achieved. "We've done well, from 2013 when his Excellency was elected. I think this country's stature has grown in leaps and bounds. The economy, whilst we have challenges, is growing," he said.
"We're now just on an upward trend and the ability of our party to organise such a conference speaks volumes of what kind of organisation we are, strong, resilient and dynamic. People are coming from all over the country to listen to the President." Kasukuwere reiterated that succession was not an issue at the conference as the President is in charge.
"He's doing a fantastic job and the country is growing, we have no problem with him in charge," he said. Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Simon Khaya Moyo said the conference was a time for cadres to introspect and find ways to improve people's lives.
"We're ready to roll and delegates have arrived and the conference will naturally open with an address by the President and thereafter we shall be following the programme and agenda," he said. "We expect lively debates on the economy and state of the party by various committees. Delegates will be active on the implementation of Zim-Asset and Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa will make a presentation on Zim-Asset which will activate debate.
"We're also looking forward to having the resolutions made by the provinces and those to be done by the Women's League and the Youth League. It will be interesting to see which ones the conference will adopt." The party's 10 provinces in their respective inter district conferences ahead of the conference endorsed President Mugabe as the party's candidate for the 2018 general elections.
The programme is expected to start at 10AM with President Mugabe officially opening the indaba and delivering a keynote address before tabling the Central Committee report. Minister Chinamasa is then expected to present a comprehensive report on the progress made in the implementation of Zim-Asset.
Ten Ministers are then expected to respond by specifically talking about deliverables by their Ministries for people to have a full understanding of what is being done on the ground. In the evening, delegates would break into various committees to discuss in detail those presentations and come up with recommendations.
Zanu-PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo said many people would have an appreciation of government efforts in improving people's livelihoods after the presentations. "We are geared up and a lot of people think that government has not been delivering," he said. "People should listen carefully to everything to be presented so that they know the progress and way forward. We are on an upward development and some of the success stories of Zim-Asset will be unveiled."
Earlier yesterday, Central Committee and Politburo members landed in the resort town to join fellow party members who also arrived from the 10 provinces for the conference to be attended by more than 5,000 delegates. Running under the theme, "Consolidating People's Power Through Zim-Asset," the conference started on Monday with the holding of a Politburo meeting and that of the Central Committee on Wednesday.
Speaking ahead of today's official opening, Zanu-PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere warned cadres fanning factionalism that they would be expelled like their predecessors.
"We've made it clear," he said, "that if you dabble in factional politics and if you become a destabilising force in the party because of pursuing factionalist agenda, we will deal with you and that's the reason why some have been suspended while others have been expelled."
He said the party would be on the lookout for opposition agents who intend to spy on the party.
"Security is tight. We'll not allow those who're not accredited or those who are fishing. We won't allow MDC agents to come and spy on us. The delegates who are coming from the provinces must be bonafide delegates so we will make sure that the security is tight so that we don't have imposters who are coming here on a fishing expedition in the party," said Kasukuwere.
He said those who had been expelled from the party for various transgressions would not be allowed in the conference. This was after Batsirai Musona, former Mashonaland Central secretary for security and former provincial youth chairperson Godfrey Tsenengamu who were expelled and suspended from the party were spotted in the resort town yesterday.
"Zanu-PF is the party, even those who're expelled want to be close to the party. What matters is to be disciplined because if we expel you, you still can't miss Zanu-PF events. Now they will be watching from hotels nearby. They wish they were in, that's why we want the people with discipline in otherwise if you've indiscipline, we will expel you," said Kasukuwere.
He called on members to respect party decisions or face censure. "That's how organisations work. We've built a political organisation with discipline and once you build a party with discipline, you won't fail because if you give instructions and commands they will be followed. We will simply ensure that we maintain maximum discipline in the party," said Kasukuwere.
He said the party was growing stronger, gaining more seats in recent by-elections. "Politically, we're on firm ground and solidly behind the leadership of President Mugabe. We're mobilising support across the length and breadth of our country for our party to remain, which it will, the dominant political player in Zimbabwe," said Kasukuwere.
"We've set our targets, on the urban centres, we've been able to increase our seats in the city of Harare in terms of numbers, and we also have five seats in Bulawayo which is a first in over a decade-and-a-half. Last time we had seats in Bulawayo was before 2000, now we have five and we're headed for another one next week on the 19th of December.
"The political machinery is standing and like we promised you the first day that this is the political machinery and it moves like a juggernaut and you can't stop it. We're continuing to grow the party in leaps and bounds. In Harare the party has grown in huge numbers, districts are being set up."
Kasukuwere said the people's belief in the leadership of President Mugabe and Zanu-PF has grown tremendously, "and we want to remain solidly united behind our leadership and ensure that the objectives of our party to deliver a better day, services, to improve the economy is achieved.
"This is what we're here to be discussing at this conference where we take stock of the year's events, our problems, the challenges and the failures that we encountered and rejuvenate the troops as they go back to the various areas to brief the people on what the party is doing, what the party has done and where we are going," said Kasukuwere.
"The party has faith in our people; the land reform programme is a done deal. What remains now, is to ensure that we put this land to maximum use and that will be done as we create the national irrigation policy to develop and strengthen the use of our rivers, dams, ensuring that all the dams we have provide food and sustenance of our people."
Kasukuwere said the conference also comes at a time when the party and government is making serious headway in terms of the economy. He said the new airport in Victoria Falls has been completed and will be officially opened by the President. Economically, Kasukuwere said, the ministry of finance has been doing a good job reengaging the international community.
He said the recent visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping shows efforts President Mugabe is making to get the Zim-Asset goals achieved. "We've done well, from 2013 when his Excellency was elected. I think this country's stature has grown in leaps and bounds. The economy, whilst we have challenges, is growing," he said.
"We're now just on an upward trend and the ability of our party to organise such a conference speaks volumes of what kind of organisation we are, strong, resilient and dynamic. People are coming from all over the country to listen to the President." Kasukuwere reiterated that succession was not an issue at the conference as the President is in charge.
"He's doing a fantastic job and the country is growing, we have no problem with him in charge," he said. Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Simon Khaya Moyo said the conference was a time for cadres to introspect and find ways to improve people's lives.
"We're ready to roll and delegates have arrived and the conference will naturally open with an address by the President and thereafter we shall be following the programme and agenda," he said. "We expect lively debates on the economy and state of the party by various committees. Delegates will be active on the implementation of Zim-Asset and Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa will make a presentation on Zim-Asset which will activate debate.
"We're also looking forward to having the resolutions made by the provinces and those to be done by the Women's League and the Youth League. It will be interesting to see which ones the conference will adopt." The party's 10 provinces in their respective inter district conferences ahead of the conference endorsed President Mugabe as the party's candidate for the 2018 general elections.
The programme is expected to start at 10AM with President Mugabe officially opening the indaba and delivering a keynote address before tabling the Central Committee report. Minister Chinamasa is then expected to present a comprehensive report on the progress made in the implementation of Zim-Asset.
Ten Ministers are then expected to respond by specifically talking about deliverables by their Ministries for people to have a full understanding of what is being done on the ground. In the evening, delegates would break into various committees to discuss in detail those presentations and come up with recommendations.
Zanu-PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo said many people would have an appreciation of government efforts in improving people's livelihoods after the presentations. "We are geared up and a lot of people think that government has not been delivering," he said. "People should listen carefully to everything to be presented so that they know the progress and way forward. We are on an upward development and some of the success stories of Zim-Asset will be unveiled."
Source - chronicle
