Published: 6 hours ago

Advance teams from Zanu-PF's administrative provinces arrived in Mutare yesterday to conduct final checks on accommodation and logistical arrangements ahead of the 22nd National People's Conference, expressing satisfaction with the preparations.

The conference, which began with a Politburo meeting in Harare and continues with a Central Committee meeting today, is set to conclude on Saturday. Most delegates will travel to Mutare on Thursday, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa is scheduled to commission major projects, including the Mega Market Milling Plant and the National Pharmaceutical Warehouse. He will also lead the launch of the national tree-planting programme at the new Zanu-PF Manicaland stand adjacent to the conference venue at Mutare Polytechnic College.

The event provides a platform for delegates to deliberate on pressing national issues such as the economy, health, education, and drug and substance abuse.

Manicaland provincial chairman, Tawanda Mukodza, said all ten provinces had inspected their allocated venues and were impressed with the quality of accommodation and services.

"All the 10 party provinces conducted an on-site inspection of accommodation facilities for their delegates, and were thoroughly impressed. The issue of accommodation has been resolved, and the venue is essentially finalised, with everything in place, save for arrival of the delegates," Mukodza said.

He added that inspections by provincial secretaries covering security, transport, welfare, and health are crucial for the smooth running of major party events.

The conference is already generating significant economic benefits for Mutare, with hotels, lodges, supermarkets, restaurants, transport operators, and informal traders reporting increased business.

Kudzai Makore, chairperson of the Manicaland Chamber of SMEs, said hosting the conference so soon after the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo had given the province's economy a much-needed boost.

"Business is thriving. Sales have increased across all sectors, and the business community is enjoying a significant upturn in trade," Makore said.
"We are well-prepared, particularly in accommodation and hospitality, having recently hosted the tourism expo. The retail sector is also equipped to handle the influx of delegates."

Guest houses and hotels across the city are fully booked, while supermarkets, food outlets, and local transport operators report higher demand than usual.

Makore noted that hosting national events like the Zanu-PF conference not only enhances business confidence but also contributes to provincial GDP growth.

"These events enable us to grow as businesses and improve service delivery, and our province's Gross Domestic Product is likely to increase if we continue to host such national events," he said.

With preparations complete and infrastructure ready, Mutare is set to welcome thousands of delegates, marking the conference as a major political and economic milestone for the province.
- The Herald

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