Harare — Preparations for Zanu-PF's National People's Congress in December are progressing as scheduled, party national chairman Cde John Nkomo has said.

Delegates to the congress - expected to number about 10 000 - will elect the Presidium comprising the President and First Secretary, two Vice Presidents and Second Secretaries and a national chairperson. The First Secretary will, in turn, appoint members of the Politburo.

Speaking after meeting the Congress Co-ordinating Committee on Monday, Cde Nkomo said he had received progress reports but could not reveal the amount of money raised so far.

The party aims to raise US$5 million for the congress.

"I have received progress reports from all the sub-committees that are organising the Congress and they have confirmed that everything is progressing according to our plan. We are quite optimistic that by the time of the congress everything will be in place. As a committee, we have come up with a system where we meet with the sub-committees every Monday to monitor progress of the preparations."

Cde Nkomo dispelled rumours that the party was failing to raise sufficient funds to finance the five-yearly meeting

"Yes, in every endeavour there are challenges and our case cannot be an exception. But challenges are not problems," said Cde Nkomo.

"The challenges that we are facing are ordinary challenges that can be found in any project."

Almost all the 10 provinces have endorsed the current leadership of President Mugabe and Vice President Joice Mujuru ahead of the Congress.

Another Vice President and Second Secretary to fill the void left by founding nationalist Cde Joseph Msika will be elected at the Congress.