Sharp divisions have emerged in the Zanu PF youth league over split loyalty to First Lady Grace Mugabe and Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the race to succeed President Robert Mugabe.
By Everson Mushava
The near fist-fights at the youths meeting ahead of the central committee meeting last Friday were reportedly sparked by the widening rift between Mnangagwa and Grace’s backers.
Youth league members reportedly linked to Mnangagwa were allegedly victimised by Grace’s loyalists whom they accused of trying to wipe out their faction.
The youths almost traded blows in full glare of the media at the party’s national headquarters.
Sources told The Standard yesterday that the youths clashed during a youth executive meeting held before the central committee meeting at the party’s headquarters.
The meeting was called after some youth provincial chairpersons threatened to resign en mass in solidarity with Mashonaland Central youth chair Godfrey Tsenengamu who was recently suspended.
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Tsenengamu was suspended a week ago on charges of stealing cattle meant for President Robert Mugabe’s birthday bash, among other allegations.
However, he denied the allegations, claiming he was being victimised for inviting Mnangagwa to a church meeting in the province.
“There are some youth leaders who are aligned to VP Mnangagwa’s faction. They are not happy with the suspension of Tsenengamu, who was one of them,” an insider told The Standard.
“The group is led by Lewis Matutu and includes Edmore Samambwa [Midlands], Vengai Musengi [Mashonaland West], Washington Nkomo [Matabeleland South], Kelvin Manyengavana [Manicaland], Khumbulani Mpofu [Bulawayo] and Tsenengamu.” Matutu is the secretary for administration of the influential youth league and is reportedly aligned to the Mnangagwa faction.
He is reportedly leading a campaign against Zanu PF deputy secretary for youth affairs, Kudzai Chipanga, and other provincial chairpersons aligned to the First Lady.
Things came to a head on Friday when Chipanga is said to have moved a motion to ban WhatsApp groups by youth executive members in the party’s management meeting, which is attended by the party’s top six in the youth executive, which Matutu is part of.
“There are several WhatsApp groups being used by youths aligned to Mnangagwa to castigate the First Lady,” the source said.
“These include Zim 1, administered by Sibongile Sibanda and Face the Nation by Tsenengamu.
“The groups are used to attack Grace. Chipanga moved that the groups should be stopped forthwith in the management meeting,” a source said.
“The idea was adopted and announced in the executive meeting that followed.
“Togarepi [Pupurai — secretary for youth affairs] assigned Chipanga to see to it that the WhatsApp groups were disbanded.
“This did not go well with Matutu and his group who saw this as a way of annihilating their faction.”
Said another source: “After the meeting, Matutu’s group charged towards Chipanga and there was a near fight. They were later reprimanded by Togarepi.”
Chipanga yesterday confirmed the fracas, but refused to give details.
Matutu was not reachable for comment.
“The president is aware of the development, which is why in his speech he said youths should learn to respect the leadership,” said another source.
“He is aware that youths were propagating hate speech against the party leadership through social media.”
Mugabe, on Friday charged against some “undisciplined and rogue” party youths whom he accused of stoking flames within the party by attacking their superiors, warning them that their days were numbered.
Zanu PF commissar Saviour Kasukuwere last weekend warned party members against using hate language on social media platforms, saying the party’s heavy hand would descend on those who would be found on the “wrong side”.
