Latest News Editor's Choice


News / National

Zanu-PF youths go berserk

by Staff reporter
21 Mar 2012 at 07:39hrs | Views
HARARE - What was meant to be a platform for Zanu-PF youths to articulate their position on the controversial empowerment laws that the Movement for Democratic Change party led by Morgan Tsvangirai has been criticising degenerated into a brawl when rival factions clashed at a press conference yesterday.

The press conference held at the Media Centre was meant to address the media on the youth empowerment group Upfumi Kuvadiki's position on indigenisation.

The meeting quickly degenerated into a brawl when a rival faction led by Scott Sakupwanya believed to be aligned to a Zanu-PF minister from Mashonaland Central stormed the venue of the meeting and disrupted proceedings.

Alson Darikayi, president of a Upfumi Kuvadiki faction which had organised the press conference.

He appeared to have been in a fighting mood dressed in a House of Gushungo beret similar to the one worn these days by former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) leader Julius Malema.

His grouping is believed to be close to a minister from Mashonaland West province.

Darikayi had his speech to journalists interrupted by Sakupwanya's group which was fronted by Tatenda Maroodza who shouted "What is going on here?" when he entered the room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is not the real Upfumi Kuvadiki. These people here are just wasting your time," he told the journalists.

"Upfumi Kuvadiki is not yours so do not try to masquerade as Upfumi Kuvadiki. We took this issue to the Zimbabwe Youth Council and they know that these people are masquerading as Upfumi Kuvadiki."

Privilege Gwiba, acting secretary for information in Sakupwanya's faction said Darikayi's faction was just out to milk Upfumi Kuvadiki.

"To say there's division would be an overstatement, we have a few individuals that want to use Upfumi Kuvadiki for their own individual benefits. This whole scenario is a comedy. These guys are trying to get their own individual benefits."

Responding to the incident, Darikayi said; "These people are within their democratic rights to act the way they are."

Sakupwanya later said, "Alson was our spokesman and we never appointed him president, I am the president. Maybe he thought that since he was now known as the voice of the organisation he could now make himself president."


Source - Daily News