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Zanu PF youths hold leaders hostage

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A GROUP of rogue Zanu PF youths reportedly stormed a party provincial executive meeting in Chinhoyi on Saturday, where they shouted obscenities at their leaders and briefly held them hostage as factional wars continue escalating ahead of the conference to be held in Victoria Falls on Monday next week.

A GROUP of rogue Zanu PF youths reportedly stormed a party provincial executive meeting in Chinhoyi on Saturday, where they shouted obscenities at their leaders and briefly held them hostage as factional wars continue escalating ahead of the conference to be held in Victoria Falls on Monday next week.

BY OBEY MANAYITI/NUNURAI JENA

The youths were said to be aligned to suspended provincial youth chairperson Vengai Musengi, who was recently relieved of his post alongside Joseph Nyariri and Silas Chimbiro over a litany of allegations.

“They came to the meeting, but the chairperson Ephraim Pepukai Chengeta told them that they should leave because they were serving a suspension. However, they defied him and kept on interjecting the speakers,” Zanu PF acting provincial chairperson Tawanda Rupiya said.

“A group of youths came to the meeting and started to shout obscenities and derogatory names at officials just outside the venue.

“After the meeting was over, the youths went on to close the gate and barred vehicles from leaving. They demanded money to let some officials pass.”

ZANU-PF-SUPPORTERS-DI

Contacted for comment, Musengi said the group had been invited by provincial secretary for administration Simbarashe Ziyambi. “There was no quorum on the meeting and anyone was allowed in the discussions. It’s not true that I sponsored the youths. I don’t have that kind of money to do that, but what I know is they are from Makonde and they are loyal to Ziyambi,” Musengi said.

Ziyambi was not available for comment.

Meanwhile, Ziyambi has allegedly barred some senior party members from conducting meetings in the province accusing them of fanning factionalism and despondency.

In a letter to one of the affected members, Kadoma Central MP Fani Phiri, Ziyambi claimed that the prohibited officials had accused politburo members Prisca Mupfumira and Edna Madzongwe of bewitching and causing the death of Kadoma legislator Joan Tsogorani.

Part of the letter read: “It has come to the attention of the provincial leadership that you are alleged to have been grossly abusing your position in the party, causing divisions and fanning factionalism.

“Against this background and in line with Article 10, Section 79(1) of the Zanu PF constitution, you Fani Phiri are hereby prohibited with immediate effect from carrying out any and all Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial executive council programmes and activities until your case has been finalised by the provincial disciplinary committee.”

The letter was copied to Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko, who is the party’s national disciplinary committee chairperson and Zanu PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.

In a recent interview, Mupfumira disclosed that she had a bone to chew with Kadoma Zanu PF members for labelling her a witch at Tsogorani’s funeral.