As Zanu PF succession battles to replace President Robert Mugabe enter the next gear, political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere will visit Masvingo province to ensure the smooth running of the party’s 16th Annual People’s Conference to be hosted by the province in December.
Masvingo Province is a hotbed in the ruling party’s succession battle, not only as a stronghold of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa support base, but also a strategic nucleus determining the direction of the country’s entire national politics.
The youth and women’s wings are holding crucial conferences in advance of the December Indaba. Mugabe has unilaterally assigned former National Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs in the ruling party, Kudzai Chipanga to the position of substantive Secretary for Youth Affairs.
Chipanga works for Mugabe’s wife, Grace giving her an upper hand.
The province, which successfully hosted President Mugabe’s 92nd birthday celebrations in February, last hosted the revolutionary party’s conference in 2003 at Masvingo Teachers’ College.
The dates and venue for the conference are yet to be announced.
“I’ll soon be visiting Masvingo to certify the venue for the 16th Annual People’s Conference,” Cde Kasukuwere said.
He said Zanu-PF national secretary for administration Dr Ignatius Chombo was in Masvingo recently to discuss the province’s hosting of the conference.

Cde Kasukuwere said 10 sub-committees to look into mobilisation of resources for the conference have been put in place. The 10 sub-committees include those on administration, security, entertainment, transport and logistics.
Zanu-PF Masvingo acting provincial chairman Cde Amasa Nhenjana could not be reached for comment.
However, all the provincial executive members were leading committees meant to mobilise resources with the provincial secretary for finance Cde Killer Zivhu leading fund-raising efforts while secretary for administration, Cde Ailes Baloyi was spearheading the administration work.
The provincial political commissar Cde Jappy Jaboon is in charge of mobilising party members to support the executive’s efforts in organising the conference.
Last year’s conference was held in Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North province from December 7 to 13 under the theme, “Consolidating People’s Power Through Zim-Asset”. State media