(Last Updated on March 27, 2014 by Editor)
The ruling Zanu-PF’s Politburo met in Harare yesterday to deliberate on several issues affecting the country and party, including the Tokwe-Mukosi flood emergency, agriculture and the national economy.
The meeting started at around 3pm and ended close to midnight.
The party endorsed Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa’s move to put a US$6 000 ceiling on salaries of public enterprises executives.
Minister of State for Masvingo Province Kudakwashe Bhasikiti briefed the Politburo on the situation at Chingwizi holding camp where thousands of families displaced by the Tokwe-Mukosi floods were temporarily relocated to.
The Zanu-PF Government has started allocating permanent plots to the families at Nuanetsi Ranch.
In February, Zanu-PF First Secretary and Head of State and Government President Mugabe declared the flooding in the Tokwe-Mukosi Basin and downstream areas a state of disaster.
Government subsequently appealed to its partners and the international community for assistance amounting to US$20 million.
The money was to relocate, shelter and provide for other needs of thousands of families displaced by the flooding.
The Politburo also discussed harvest projections from this year’s main farming season, following a presentation by Agriculture Minister Dr Joseph Made.
Furthermore, the ruling party deliberated on the economy and the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation, the country’s economic blueprint for 2013 to 2018.
Zim-Asset is premised on Zanu-PF’s highly-endorsed 2013 harmonised elections manifesto.
The state of the party in the Midlands province also took centre stage.
President Mugabe said the Commissariat should investigate and determine if the executives they were elected properly.
Bickering has characterised Zanu-PF’s Midlands province, with alleged factional battles dragging on for months now.
Recently, members of the provincial executive boycotted a meeting because of disagreements over the composition of the leadership.
A new executive was announced by party political commissar Cde Webster Shamu at a meeting at the party’s conference centre in Gweru in early March.
However, there were strong objections on the criteria used to appoint the new executive.
Some members were accused of hiding behind party bigwigs to perpetuate selfish interests, while others called on President Mugabe to deal with factionalism decisively before it brought dishonour to Zanu-PF.
President Mugabe has slammed factionalism, saying it cannot be allowed to derail matters of national concern. Herald