Zanu PF youths defy Mugabe

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ZANU PF youths in Bulawayo held an emergency meeting yesterday where they passed a vote of no-confidence on their three provincial executive members, accusing them of fanning factionalism and insulting party senior leadership.

ZANU PF youths in Bulawayo held an emergency meeting yesterday where they passed a vote of no-confidence on their three provincial executive members, accusing them of fanning factionalism and insulting party senior leadership.

BY STAFF REPORTER

The axed members are Davis Mhambi (secretary for finance), Boniface Mutsure commissariat) and Maqhawe Sibanda (transport and welfare).

The decision, supported by 26 youth executives, is likely to set the youths on a collision course with national leaders as it came shortly after President Robert Mugabe ordered a stop to the suspensions.

Addressing delegates at the party’s national conference in Victoria Falls last week, Mugabe urged warring Zanu PF members to seek dialogue before rushing to suspend each other.

Bulawayo provincial youth chairperson Khumbulani Mpofu said the decision to suspend the three had been communicated to the party’s national youth leader Pupurai Togarepi, national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and administration secretary Ignatius Chombo.

President Robert Mugabe
President Robert Mugabe

But Kasukuwere yesterday said he was unaware of the incident.

Said Mpofu:“The Zanu PF Bulawayo youth provincial executive today [yesterday] held an emergency meeting to discuss a petition that was said to be in circulation. The meeting made a resolution to pass a vote of no-confidence on some of its members.

“Information obtained by the youth executive revealed that some members of the provincial youth league executive were in possession of a petition against the provincial chairman, Khumbulani Mpofu and the secretary for administration, Cecilia Verenga.

“Apart from containing fake allegations the petition accused the provincial members of various offences ranging from fanning factionalism, misconduct and bringing the name of the party into disrepute”. Mpofu said the three were “insulting senior leadership of the party on groups chats, practicing divisive politics in the province and failing to discharge their responsibilities.”

On Sunday, War Veterans minister and Norton legislator Christopher Mutsvangwa was also booted out over similar allegations following a petition signed by some members of the party’s Mashonaland West executive.