×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Zanu PF factionalism seeps down to tertiary students

News
ZANU PF factional fights have cascaded down to students at tertiary institutions, where Zimbabwe Congress of Students’ Union (Zicosu) leader, Tonderai Chidawa is reportedly facing the axe for being sympathetic to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction.

ZANU PF factional fights have cascaded down to students at tertiary institutions, where Zimbabwe Congress of Students’ Union (Zicosu) leader, Tonderai Chidawa is reportedly facing the axe for being sympathetic to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction.

BY OBEY MANAYITI

Chidawa and part of his executive invited Mnangagwa for a public lecture in Bulawayo at the weekend, but the invitation has raised a lot of dust from the rival G40 faction, which is strongly believed to be against Mnangagwa’s bid to succeed President Robert Mugabe.

The G40 members have also reportedly accused Chidawa of disrespecting Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo.

As if to confirm the allegations, Moyo on Monday claimed on Twitter that the Zicosu leadership had insulted him.

Emmerson-Mnangagwa16

“Zicosu insulted me at Mnangagwa’s Bulawayo Poly event. Their invite went direct to VP and I was not on their programme,” he posted, following another post at the weekend which read: “Somebody just shared with me this picture of fake students handing over a wooden crocodile yesterday at Byo Polytechnic!”

But Chidawa hit back, saying he would not be intimidated by people paid by Moyo.

“I cannot be worried by people being funded by our minister, Moyo, and remember, I was voted into office by a congress and not a few individuals, who are greedy and pursuing a certain agenda of G40 that he fronts,” he said.

“We will restrain ourselves from attacking Moyo personally as an appointee of the President, but we wish to remind the minister, as a first-year student, to respect structures of the students’ union. We urge the minister not to confuse his roles as a first-year student and as an appointee of His Excellency.”

Zicosu national treasurer, Obey Mashada accused Chidawa of disrespecting Moyo.

“We are hearing that he shouted at and insulted Minister Moyo. Whenever we have a misunderstanding with the government in terms of administration of our institutions, we address them in a constructive manner. We don’t fight or shout against the Zanu PF agenda. So these are the allegations levelled against him,” he said.

Zicosu national members have allegedly been summoned by Zanu PF secretary for youth affairs, Pupurai Togarepi to solve the matter that is rocking the ruling party.