THE upcoming elective Zanu PF youth conference slated for August has already been rocked by reports of vote-buying with some candidates allegedly splashing cash and fuel coupons to the electoral college, NewsDay has learnt.
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This emerged during a no-holds-barred Zanu PF inter-district meeting held in Mutare on Sunday. The meeting was also attended by party secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa, secretary for youth affairs Absolom Sikhosana, Indigenisation minister Francis Nhema, Agriculture minister Joseph Made, Energy deputy minister Munacho Mutezo and several party MPs.
The party’s provincial youth chair Kelvin Manyengawana called for the leadership to rein in those using unorthodox means to get into power.
“The executive has been divided over this election,” said Manyengawana.
“Vote-buying is now rampant and we want to investigate where the money and the coupons are coming from.
“Had it been for money, this country would not have been liberated. This country came through an ideology and we want that same ideology that liberated this country to cascade to the youths as well and not vote-buying.
“We want the youth brigade back so that people learn the ideology of the party. However, we promise to be loyal to the party even in difficult times.”
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The post of deputy secretary for youth affairs, who will be automatically become a politburo member deputising the secretary for youth affairs, will be up for grabs among other portfolios.
Several names, including that of Makoni West MP Kudzanai Chipanga, who is currently the secretary for external relations, the incumbent deputy secretary for youth affairs Edson Chakanyuka, Mhondoro Ngezi MP Mike Gava, who is the current political commissar, and Gokwe Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena have been linked to the post. Sikhosana also condemned vote-buying saying the electoral college should be properly constituted as a way of plugging loopholes. In apparent response to the plea, Mutasa gave a stern warning to those fingered in vote-buying. “Give us their names please. If you fear to tell them, then we will do that and warn them,” Mutasa said.
