Harare — Zanu-PF's National People's Congress, which had been slated for December 8 to 13, has been postponed by a week to make way for the hosting of an international civil aviation conference at that time.

Informed sources said the new conference dates had now been provisionally set for December 16 to 20.

Zanu-PF secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa confirmed the postponement in an interview yesterday.

"It (congress) had been set from December 8 to 13, but we realised that the venue (City Sports Centre) is booked by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, so we had to book a later date.

"I want to take this opportunity to tell the people that congress has been postponed. We were supposed to sit down with the congress co-ordinating committee.

"I failed to meet the committee because of a family bereavement," Cde Mutasa said, in reference to the death of his son, Wing Commander Edwin Tanyanyiwa, early this week.

Cde Mutasa said the new dates would be decided by the Zanu-PF Politburo.

He, however, indicated that the congress would be held in "the week after the CAAZ conference", while informed sources said it would have to be between December 16 and 20.

Congress preparations have gone well with nine out of 10 provinces unanimously endorsing President Mugabe as Zanu-PF President and First Secretary.

Nominations for both the Vice Presidency and national chairmanship have also been done.

Zanu-PF national chairman Cde John Nkomo this week wrapped up the Vice Presidency after getting the support of six provinces to fill the post which fell vacant following the death of fearless founding nationalist Cde Joseph Msika in August.

Eight provinces have endorsed Vice President Joice Mujuru's candidature.

Masvingo opted for Cde Oppah Muchinguri while Midlands is yet to nominate candidates.

Politburo member and Zimbabwe's Ambassador to South Africa Cde Simon Khaya Moyo landed the party national chairmanship after he was nominated by eightprovinces.

Masvingo, which had initially endorsed Cde Kembo Mohadi, yesterday announced that it had transferred the endorsement to Cde Khaya Moyo after the former's withdrawal from the race.

A person requires the backing of at least six provinces to be elevated into the Presidium.

A number of provinces have also nominated Central Committee members while Harare Province now has a substantive leadership chaired by Cde Amos Midzi.

The province had gone for over a year without leadership until elections were held a fortnight ago.