MANICALAND Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene and a group of Zanu PF youths who had been disrupting party activities over the past few months met on Sunday and buried their differences ahead of First Lady Grace Mugabe’s visit to the province today.
BY OBEY MANAYITI/KENNETH NYANGANI
Chimene confirmed the deal yesterday, saying she was glad the party youths had realised “the folly of being used by some politicians to pursue personal agendas”.
“As long as people adhere to the party’s constitution, there will be no problem. I accept their apology and that they have realised that what they were doing was a mistake. This gesture will certainly improve our working relationship and performance as a party,” she said, claiming there was no link between the apology and Grace’s visit.
Some provincial members, who requested anonymity, said the decision to apologise to Chimene was based on the realisation that some unscrupulous senior officials were abusing them in their personal fights.
“Before the PCC (provincial coordinating committee) meeting, we met as an executive and agreed that as youths, we should not be used as pawns in personal fights,” a provincial member said.
“We wanted to apologise to Chimene for whatever we have been doing to her. We set up a management committee at first with a few individuals last Monday, but it didn’t yield anything.
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“Then on Sunday we went to the PA’s [Provincial Affairs minister] boardroom and openly told her that we were sorry for what we have been doing. We told her she was key to unlocking various opportunities in the province and I am glad that she accepted,” the source said.
Chimene and Water minister Oppah Muchinguri are widely believed to be locked in a bitter fight for control of provincial party structures.
Their fight intensified after a leaked audio recording where someone believed to be Muchinguri and some party youths were recorded backstabbing other officials.
Meanwhile, scores of Sakubva flea-market stall holders in Mutare have been forced to close shop and attend Grace’s rally at Cashel Valley in Chimanimani today.
Sakubva flea market committee chairman Rudolph Muturikwa confirmed the development, saying most markets in Mutare would be closed to pave way for Grace’s rally.
“Yes, the flea market will be closed. We came with this idea as an executive. I don’t know if there are any changes,” he said.
Zanu PF secretary for administration Kenneth Saruchera’s mobile phone went unanswered yesterday when sought to comment on the closure of flea markets. The flea market operators questioned why they were being forced to close shop and attend a rally 100km outside Mutare.
Grace is expected to address a bumper crowd in Chimanimani.
On her last visit during the “meet-the-people tour” last year, a group of Zanu PF youths openly booed her, as she addressed party supporters.
