SEVEN Zanu PF provincial youth chairpersons yesterday said they were living in fear of losing their party posts following allegations that they were failing to get along with the party’s national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.
BY OBEY MANAYITI
According to sources, the youth leaders, who include suspended Harare youth chairman Godwin Gomwe, played a crucial role in the ouster of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, but were now being targeted in renewed Zanu PF factional fights.
This came as President Robert Mugabe told Zanu PF youths over the weekend to be wary of being caught between the factional wars between Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko.
“There is a plot involving Kasukuwere to remove the provincial youth chairpersons. Seven are targeted now, but ironically, they are the ones who played a pivotal role in the removal of Mujuru,” a Zanu PF Youth League national executive member who refused to be named said.
“They are alleged to be supporting the wrong camp, but in as far as we are concerned, we are not expected to be doing camps. Some of them wanted to stand as MPs, but they were blocked. The chairpersons are aware of this and they are worried about their political future.”
One of the chairpersons who requested anonymity confirmed the plot, but refused to give reasons.
“That’s very true, but I cannot add anything from what you are saying,” he said.
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However, both Kasukuwere and Zanu PF secretary for youth affairs in the politburo Pupurai Togarepi dismissed the allegations, saying there was nothing to fear unless the chairpersons had criminal charges like Gomwe.
Kasukuwere accused the chairpersons of lying and using the party’s name to steal and extort money.
“I am hearing that for the first time. As the youths, we work well with the national PC. If it is about Gomwe, then we will wait for police investigations,” Togarepi said. “However, we will resist any matters raised against our members that have political connotations. At the moment, I haven’t received any complaint like that. I always talk to them that if they have issues, they should come forward and they haven’t brought such issues,” he said, adding that as youths, they always consulted with Kasukuwere and former youth leader Absolom Sikhosana.
