Zanu PF youths in Harare have called on the Harare executive to fire Acie Lumumba from his provincial position over his recent public spat with Indigenisation minister Patrick Zhuwao, whom he alleged was corrupt.
BY OBEY MANAYITI
In a video posted on social media, Lumumba claimed Zhuwao was trying to enrich himself through illegal dealings including demanding 3% of the Old Mutual stake in the Zimbabwe Youth Empowerment Fund.
But Zhuwao, who fired Lumumba from chairing the Zimbabwe Youth Empowerment Strategy for Investment, hardly a week after his appointment, has denied the allegations.
Harare provincial youth league chairperson Edson Takataka told NewsDay yesterday they were pushing for the sacking of Lumumba as deputy secretary for environment and tourism.
“He doesn’t fit to be in the provincial executive anymore. As youth league, we believe that if there is a misunderstanding with a party member you should find amicable ways to resolve the matter. There is no need to use social media to attack seniors,” Takataka said.
“In as far as we understand the matter, he is the one who erred and was told to correct things by Zhuwao, but he declined to accept free advice. We have heard a lot about him (Lumumba) before, but we have never gone to such levels as he did.” Takataka, who threatened to reveal Lumumba’s alleged dark side, said the youths were not being sponsored to hound out the losing Zanu PF Hatfield constituency candidate.
“We are not doing this for the minister. We are at different levels with Zhuwao. We decided as the youth league to take up the matter with the higher body so that disciplinary action is taken against Lumumba,” he said.
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However, Lumumba urged Takataka to back off.
“The matter is above his pay grade and he should leave main wing business to people who know a bit more about the party,” Lumumba said.
“I think on this matter if he really did say that, then he better be careful. I don’t leave the main wing and replace him in the youth league because we all know who runs this city. He is my friend and I am sure what he said was (during) a moment of madness.”
Lumumba was co-opted into the main wing this month as deputy secretary for environment and tourism. Both Lumumba and Zhuwao have been linked to the G40 faction which is reportedly loyal to First Lady Grace Mugabe.
