ZANU PF appears to be heading for more trouble as the youths have waded into the fresh infighting pitting acting president Emmerson Mnangagwa and the so called “gang of four” which comprises of Oppah Muchinguri, Saviour Kasukuwere, Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Zhuwao.
Prior to the December congress, the “gang of four” joined forces with the Mnangagwa faction and successfully achieved former vice president Joice Mujuru’s ouster with the backing of First Lady Grace Mugabe. The youths also dumped Mujuru and joined Grace’s bandwagon in what came to be known as the Mazowe Orange crush.
However hardly a week after Mnangagwa had been appointed vice president, a new wave of infighting rocked the party with the four attacking Mnangagwa in the public media.
Sources said the Youth League was now divided on the way forward following the fresh infighting which is continuing.
But in an interview with Newzimbabwe.com Secretary for Administration in the Youth League Lewis Matutu said as the youth they “have been closely watching and monitoring all the developments and events that have been unfolding in the country since our last congress.”
The tough talking Matutu, who is a strong Mnangagwa ally, attacked “some senior” party members whom he accused of being “evil” and “disrespectful.”
He said: “We note with regret the evil tendencies and behaviour of some senior party leaders who are busy attacking our newly appointed leadership in the politburo especially our vice presidents. This shows serious disrespect to the President who appointed these people and we are not going to stand and watch such power hungry elements destroying the party that is going to be in our hands in the near future. Very soon we shall name and shame all of them so that the nation can know the type of leaders they are, how desperate and disobedient they are and how disrespectful they are.”
Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Kudzai Chipanga could neither deny nor confirm the reports that developments in the party have rocked the youth league.
“I am away but we can see there is tension in the party. I cannot say my position now but soon after the Festive holidays we will convene a meeting to come up with a position,” said Chipanga.
Chipanga, once a strong Mujuru ally, defected to the Mugabe camp and ensured that Mujuru was ousted.
The post congress infighting and the said Youth League divisions could point to more trouble ahead. University of Leicester politics lecturer James Hamill has predicted catastrophe for both Zanu PFand the country saying only Zanu PF collapse could save Zimbabwe from becoming a mafia state. SOURCE: allafrica
