MUTARE — Controversy continues to haunt Zanu PF Manicaland province amid reports that the party’s provincial youth executive met over the weekend and booted out youth leaders suspected to be sympathetic to former youth chairman Tawanda Mukodza and the main wing’s suspended provincial chair Mike Madiro.
Staff Reporter
Party insiders said the meeting took place on Saturday at the Government Complex in Mutare and was chaired by Mukodza’s successor Kelvin Manyengavana.
Although Manyengavana yesterday declined to comment on the matter, Kudzi Chipanga, who is a member of the Zanu PF central committee and national youth secretary for external affairs, said the affected youth leaders had been booted out for absconding from meetings.
“The constitution of Zanu PF stipulates that if a person absents himself from the meetings for three consecutive times without apology, they will be automatically removed. They absented themselves and they were automatically removed,” said Chipanga.
According to party insiders, provincial vice-chairperson Felistus Dumba was replaced by former secretary for administration Mubuso Chinguno while Betty Dhliwayo took over as secretary for administration. Chipo Barara was co-opted as secretary for finance while the secretary for security post previously held by Admire Mahachi went to Linda Njerere. Mahachi was given the less influential position of secretary for education.
The province has of late hogged the limelight for all the wrong reasons as leaders tore each other apart along factional lines, culminating in the suspension of Madiro and his subsequent replacement by John Mvundura.
