'Don't soil Zanu-PF's name,' says Chipanga

People should not hide behind political fig leaves, in the process soiling Zanu-PF's name, when they are implicated in unethical or illegal dealings, the boss of the ruling party's youth wing has said.

Addressing tens of thousands of party supporters at White City Stadium here yesterday, Zanu-PF National Secretary for Youth Affairs Kudzanai Chipanga also said some individuals - when facing disciplinary issues - were conveniently claiming political victimisation.

In particular, he said some people were wrongly saying they were under the cosh because they had declared their support for a push by Zanu-PF organs and structures to amend the ruling party's constitution at an Extraordinary Congress pencilled for December 2017 for the Presidium to have at least one female Vice-President.

Chipanga said the Zanu-PF Youth League decision to support calls for a female VP was a collective one and no individual could claim it is their own, moreso someone grappling with disciplinary issues.

He said, "The Youth League supports calls for an Extraordinary Congress. We need to affirm our party's position that you (President Mugabe) are our candidate for the 2018 election.

"We are also saying the Extraordinary Congress must also be used to amend the constitution and provide for women representation in the Presidium. Pamamonya ipapo, let's also have a woman. Such a move can as well encourage women as we go for elections.

"So, we are looking to the party's Secretary for Legal Affairs (Patrick Chinamasa) to amend the constitution to reflect this position. We have some youths who are now approaching this matter with dirty hands, going to provinces, saying it's their individual effort. All the youths want is a female Vice-President. It is a collective decision and all our provinces have endorsed this position."

Chipanga said the Youth League was mobilising young people to register to vote in the 2018 harmonised elections.

"Wherever we are going, we are carrying this important message that youths should register to vote. We are urging all our members to register as voters and next year, they should vote for our Presidential candidate, President Mugabe.

"Unfortunately, the youth voter turnout is still low and we are urging the party to provide the vehicles promised to the youths so that they can move around mobilising their colleagues to register.

''The turnout from the women is not bad, and we should encourage our youths because they are still young," he said.

On the revival of Bulawayo-based industries, Chipanga said: "The youths in Bulawayo are requesting (that) all industries that had shut down be resuscitated to create employment for the youths and that will also boost the economy.

"The people of Bulawayo thanked the President for the Special Economic Zones programme and the introduction of Statutory Instrument 64, saying it has helped resuscitate local industry." Chipanga said he was worried by the plight of Zimbabwe National Youth Service graduates who were engaged on temporary contracts by Government departments and agencies.

Added Chipanga: "We are requesting a special interface for students with you, the President, and we are in the process of preparing for this interface with Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo."

He also paid tribute to First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe for her philanthropic work and her guidance.