The Sunday Mail
Levi Mukarati and Kuda Bwititi
Delegates to Zanu-PF’s National People’s Conference, whose official programme begins tomorrow in Victoria Falls, should be guided accordingly in disposing agenda matters bearing in mind the gathering is to review party and Government policies, a Politburo member has said.
The convention comes on the back of an elective Congress in Harare last December and will declare President Mugabe as “the President of the party elected at Congress (and also) as the State Presidential candidate of the party”.
Some sections of the media have been misleading the public to the effect that the conference is a platform to discuss divisive succession politics.
Ruling party National Secretary for Information Publicity Cde Simon Khaya Moyo told The Sunday Mail that the 15th National People’s Conference would be guided by Zanu-PF’s constitution.
The conference, according to Zanu-PF’s constitution, has the powers and functions “to receive and consider reports of the Central Committee on behalf of Congress; to co-ordinate and supervise the implementation of decisions and programmes of Congress by the Central Committee”.
It is also convened to declare “the President of the party elected at Congress as the State Presidential candidate of the party (and) to exercise any such powers and authority as may be incidental thereto”.
Cde Khaya Moyo said the powers and functions of the conference, which is held annually in ordinary sessions and at anytime in special sessions or extraordinary sessions, were clear and should be adhered to.
“The purpose of the conference is to have a review the year. It is a process of taking stock of what the party has done, where the party is and what is the way forward.
“A conference is not an elective process as has been suggested by some ignorant sections of the media. The process of appointing people to the Politburo was done at Congress last year, when President Mugabe executed his mandate to appoint the Politburo.”
Cde Khaya Moyo said the conference came at a time Zanu-PF was returning to its founding system where the party formulates polices for implementation by the Government.
This model has been effective in countries such as China where the county committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the county government and the county people’s congress make decisions with the party being the most important player.
Zanu-PF policy formulation and implementation process changed around 2000 following the coming on board of several technocrats who viewed their State posts as superior to the party.
The period witnessed a surge in cases of friction along power lines resulting in the party taking a tough stance to discipline its members.
But a few years down the line, the party machinery seems to have been re-oiled and is now on track with Zanu-PF ascertaining its position as superior to Government.
Cde Khaya Moyo said it was important for party members to understand that Zanu-PF was the backbone of Government.
“Government is a product of the party. There is no Government without a party, so it all starts from the party first, then to Government.
“You cannot separate the two. Even if you look at our friends from China, it is the Communist Party which directs Government policy. So as Zanu-PF, we are clear about what we are doing and we make no apologies for directing Government.”
Harare-based political analyst Mr Godwine Mureriwa said Zanu-PF clearly had “its eyes on the ball”.
“The (conference) theme … shows that Zanu-PF has its eyes on the ball. We know that the manifesto in 2013 was focused on empowering people so that they get the resources and then adding value to those resources. All this shows that the party is focused on the economy more than any other issues.
“We have had the private media painting a picture that Zanu-PF is embroiled in bickering but they are choosing not to tell the real story and now they are being exposed. This is why you have the First Lady going around the country on a mission to promote development projects that make an impact on people’s livelihoods.”
Mr Mureriwa said Zanu-PF’s strategy to have its manifes drive Government policies and programmes put it in good stead for the 2018 elections.
“It shows that come 2018, Zanu-PF will not be all about sloganeering, but will trace its track record and people will be able to see that the party is sincere. The party adheres to its manifesto, which gave birth to Zim-Asset.”
The conference is composed of Central Committee, National Consultative Assembly, National Council of the Women’s League and National Council of the Youth League members.
Organs that also second delegates include provincial and district executives.
The conference will have Politburo and Central Committee meetings on Monday and Wednesday respectively at Zanu-PF’s Headquarters.
President Mugabe’s official opening address is on Friday in Victoria Falls, and then he closes it on Saturday.
