ZANU PF Bulawayo provincial youth chairperson Khumbulani Mpofu has reportedly claimed that the cash he collected from various city firms early this year was meant to fund First Lady Grace Mugabe’s programmes.
Nqobani Ndlovu Mpofu allegedly made the claims after being quizzed by senior Zanu PF o cials at the Davies Hall provincial offices in Bulawayo on Tuesday, party sources said on Wednesday.
His executive was being accused of corruption and extortion leading to a vote of no con fidence by party districts.
The meeting, according to sources, was attended by Zanu PF’s national secretary for youth a airs Pupurai Togarepi, who is heading a restructuring exercise in Bulawayo.
“He (Mpofu) tried to absolve himself by claiming that he was only asking for donations from several companies in order to ful l the First Lady’s activities like attending her meetings,” said a party insider.
“The district committees rubbished his claims and saw to it that he is finally kicked out.
“The district committees were agreed that they would have bought his story if it was last year when the First Lady was holding nationwide rallies.”
Mpofu was then booted out and replaced by Oddie Moyo.
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Although Mpofu could not be reached for comment, both Moyo and provincial youth spokesperson Collera Shoko con firmed the development on Wednesday.
“We are now waiting for the party leadership to endorse our decision(to kick out Mpofu),” Shoko said. Suspended Zanu PF Harare provincial youth chair, Godwin Gomwe, is currently on trial over extortion charges.
Since Grace’s meteoric rise in Zanu PF and national politics last year, several ruling party o cials have been accused of using her name to extort money from people.Gomwe and Zanu PF youth league executive members were accused of using Grace’s name to extort housing co-operatives around Harare.
The First Lady is now regarded as a kingmarker in Zanu PF, but she denies accusations that she harbours ambitions to succeed President Robert Mugabe.
