Zanu PF plans Mugabe palace

Politics
ZANU PF youths plan to construct a multi-million dollar “presidential palace” near the Great Zimbabwe monument to accommodate President Robert Mugabe and other foreign dignitaries whenever they are visiting Masvingo.

ZANU PF youths plan to construct a multi-million dollar “presidential palace” near the Great Zimbabwe monument to accommodate President Robert Mugabe and other foreign dignitaries whenever they are visiting Masvingo.

BY ELIAS MAMBO

President Robert Mugabe enjoys his cake at Great Zimbabwe monuments yesterday, while his wife, Grace, chats with Zanu PF secretary for youth affairs Pupurai Togarepi. Picture: Aaron Ufumeli
President Robert Mugabe enjoys his cake at Great Zimbabwe monuments yesterday, while his wife, Grace, chats with Zanu PF secretary for youth affairs Pupurai Togarepi. Picture: Aaron Ufumeli

National youth league secretary, Pupurai Togarepi Pupurai said construction of the project was set to begin in July this year.

“Great Zimbabwe is crucial because it has historical links to this country and this palace will not be for accommodation only, but also a tourist attraction,” Togarepi said.

“Talks are at an advanced stage with the Masvingo provincial leadership and they are all supporting this great initiative.”

Togarepi is still serving as the secretary for youths despite recent attempts to pass a vote-of-no-confidence against him by a group led by his deputy, Kudzai Chipanga.

“I am a presidential appointee and until the president [Robert Mugabe] tells me to stop my duties, I will not stop. But as for now, I am busy working for my party leader,” he said.

At the burial of the late Victoria Chitepo, Togarepi laid a wreath on behalf of the youth league in the presence of Mugabe.

“It is business as usual, but I want to tell the youths to desist from being used by factionalists and power-hungry politicians,” Togarepi said.

“I have come this far because I respect our leadership. What I want to see among the youths is unity.”

Zanu PF is torn into two factions, pitting Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa on one side and a group of young Turks, dubbed G40, which is allegedly being fronted by First Lady Grace Mugabe.