ZANU PF youths in Masvingo have openly declared allegiance to First Lady Grace Mugabe, saying anyone who opposes her was against President Robert Mugabe.
BY Tatenda Chitagu/Jairos Saunyama
This sets them for a bruising showdown with war veterans who blasted Grace, saying her conduct of publicly attacking party leaders was “unmotherly”, urging her to “behave”.
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association national executive member Francis Zimuto, whose Chimurenga nom de guerre was Black Jesus, on Tuesday dared Grace, telling her she was just a “young girl”, whose behaviour was in sharp contrast to her predecessor, the late Sally.
But addressing a Press conference yesterday, Zimbabwe Youth Council provincial chair, Talent Chivhange, who was flanked by other youths from the national youth service, popularly known as Green Bombers, said no one could claim to like the President without liking his wife.
“The President does not live in isolation. He is married to Dr Grace and we will defend the interests of the First Family. The First Family deserves all our support,” he said.
Biggy Kwangwa, a member of the Munhumutapa Young People Business Association and a graduate of the National Youth Service programme, said some in the party were attacking Mugabe indirectly by criticising his wife.
“Some are using hidden innuendos to tarnish the President’s image. We read between the lines what they are saying. We are prepared to defend him with our blood. “As long as it is something to do with the President, we will die for him,” he said.
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Another youth leader, Talent Majoni, said they would defend Mugabe’s legacy “violently or otherwise”. Their sentiments came as war veterans aligned to their leader Chris Mutsvangwa were tear-gassed by the police in Harare and had their meeting stopped.
Meanwhile, the Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial council on Tuesday suspended the party’s provincial women’s league boss Aplonia Munzverengi and two other senior executive members from the main wing for allegedly barring members from attending a rally held at the Zanu PF headquarters last week.
Provincial secretary for security Tendai Mangwiro and provincial political commissar Herbert Shumbamhini were also suspended over the same accusations.
A seven-member board of inquiry led by provincial secretary for administration and Marondera Central legislator Lawrence Katsiru has been set up to investigate the three.
A senior party official who requested anonymity told NewsDay that the trio will have their fate decided after the investigations.
“It is said that during that day the leaders called for a meeting in Seke at the expense of going to Harare to meet the President before the politburo meeting,” the source said.
The suspensions came after that of Mashonaland East provincial chair Joel Biggie Matiza, who is facing the same accusations. Matiza has since defied the suspension, describing it as unconstitutional. Bernard Makokove is the interim provincial chairperson.
