The 22nd Zanu PF Annual National People's Conference is set to take place in Mutare, specifically at the Mutare Polytechnic Pavilion Grounds, from October 13 to 18. This year's gathering will feature a significantly streamlined format, with a sharp focus on the state of the economy. Unlike previous conferences which hosted over 7,000 attendees, this edition will be limited to approximately 4,000 participants, encompassing foreign delegates and essential service providers. Preliminary meetings of the Politburo and Central Committee are scheduled to precede the main conference in Harare.

Zanu PF Director of Information and Publicity, Farai Marapira, explained that this deliberate downsizing aims to transform the conference into a more substantive working session exclusively for elected representatives. Cde Marapira stated, "The party is focused on ensuring that the conference is a convergence of delegates alone." He elaborated that this approach prevents individuals from "milling about during closed plenary sessions" and guarantees that "attendees are only composed of the true elected representatives of the people." This structure, he emphasized, is designed to foster more effective communication, ensuring that the "message of the grassroots is, therefore, cascaded up appropriately and the leadership's responses, likewise, cascade down and are communicated properly."

Under the theme, "Attainment of Vision 2030 through Economic Empowerment and Value Addition," the conference serves as a critical platform. It aims to consolidate the party's 2023 electoral mandate and thoroughly evaluate the progress made in the Second Republic's development agenda. The accreditation process for delegates commenced earlier this week at the party's headquarters in Harare, preparing for this important political assembly.