All Zanu-PF Provinces Endorse President Mugabe

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe along with First Lady Grace. She made a powerful and defiant speech calling for the continuation of ZANU-PF rule in this southern African nation., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

All Zanu-PF provinces endorse the President

Sunday, 25 November 2012 00:00
Zimbabwe Sunday Mail

All 10 Zanu-PF provinces have reaffirmed President Mugabe as the party’s presidential candidate for the harmonised elections pencilled in for next year. Last week, nine provinces threw their weight behind the First Secretary and President of the party at their respective inter-district conferences.

The number came to 10 after Matabeleland North added its voice. Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Cde Rugare Gumbo said all the provincial structures agreed that Cde Mugabe should be the sole party candidate.

He said the development means delegates will next month attend the Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference in Gweru on common ground.

“All the provinces have agreed that our First Secretary and President, Cde Mugabe, should be the sole candidate to represent us during the elections,” he said.

“We have no other candidate as Zanu-PF. The President’s name will be reaffirmed at the 13th Annual National People’s Conference slated for Gweru from December 4 to 9.

“There is no reason why President Mugabe will not be confirmed again as our candidate unless he declines. He is the President of the party and he becomes the candidate for our party.’’

Cde Gumbo said the conference, running under the theme “Indigenise, Empower, Develop and Create” Employment’, would tackle key areas, among them economic empowerment, next year’s elections and guidelines for primary elections.

“We adopted that theme because it is relevant to the current situation and also to our campaign for next year’s election,’’ said Cde Gumbo.

He said the agenda has already been set, adding that the Politburo will again meet this week to confirm it. He added that the programme was also ready.

“We want to deepen our discussion on indigenisation and employment creation and come up with resolutions. The conference will also come up with a manifesto for the elections. This is the thrust of the conference,’’ he said.

The party spokesman said delegates are expected to start arriving in Gweru on December 4. President Mugabe will then officially open the conference on the following day.Accreditation of delegates is already being done in the respective provinces.

Between five and six thousand delegates are expected at the gathering.