Ousted Zanu-PF youth chairman fights for political survival

OUSTED Zanu-PF provincial youth chairman, Tawanda Mukodza, was in the eye of a storm when he allegedly bulldozed his way and disturbed the national youth executive meeting that was supposed to deliberate on the preparations for President Mugabe's birthday.

Mukodza and his sympathisers from Midlands, Matabeleland South and Masvingo, apart from causing chaos and abandonment of the meeting, allegedly manhandled Zanu-PF national secretary for youth affairs in the Politburo, Absalom Sikhosana, demanding a reversal of Mukodza's sacking.

Mukodza was ousted on December 13, 2012 at FITC, on allegations of corruption, nepotism, provoking divisions within the ruling party, insubordination and bringing the league into disrepute.

Sikhosana a fortnight ago officially wrote advising the provincial chairman, Mike Madiro of Mukodza's sacking and his replacement by lawyer, Manyengavana as the acting youth leader.

Sikhosana also wrote to Mukodza advising him of his sacking, but he has been fighting for his political survival.

The reaction by Mukodza did not bear fruit, as Sikhosana and the majority of his national management committee refused to budge and announced Manyengavana as the Manicaland youth leader.

Absalom Sikhosana refused to comment when contacted by The Manica Post on Tuesday.

"I cannot comment over the issue as yet. We are still seized with the matter. You can talk to your sources," said Sikhosana.

Mukodza on Tuesday confirmed attending the meeting "on invitation" but refused to shed light on what transpired thereafter.

"Let me play my politics. It's all politics. Why are those people coming to you? What do they hope to achieve? Why fight in the Press? I do not want to talk about what happened at the said meeting. I do not discuss issues that have to do with Zanu-PF in the Press.

"Tell those people who are telling those stories that I am Zanu-PF to the bone, and will only comment on issues that help the party win the next elections. I am a national leader and a man capable of fighting. I am accountable to the national executive," said Mukodza.

The national youth secretary of external affairs, Kudzi Chipanga, who presided over the elections that ushered Manyengavana to power together with Lesman Humbe accused Mukodza of being exploited by his jittery political handlers to defy constitutional party directives.

"It won't take him anywhere. They are fighting a lost battle. What is worrying youth cadres in Manicaland is that Mukodza was being used to disregard party directives by his well known handlers, who themselves have been suspended from the party in the same manner, but religiously followed dictates of their suspensions to the day of their re-admission. He is being used to go against the position of the party he claims to be in his DNA, probably forgetting that Zanu PF was greater that two individuals. That is an act of insubordination and his handlers will soon be exposed and brought to shame," said Chipanga.

A source who attended the meeting said: "Mukodza was smuggled into the meeting,  and since the new chairman Kelvin Manyengavana had already taken his chair as the

Manicaland youth leader, someone queried why  Manicaland had two representative claiming to be chairpersons.

"Sikhosana was forced to brief them about the development in Manicaland and advised them about the vote-of-no-confidence passed on Mukodza and his replacement by Manyengavana.

"Mukodza's sympathisers would take none of it, but Sikhosana told them in no uncertain terms that it was not their mandate to dictate who must lead a fellow province because they were at the same level. He told them that Manicaland had passed a constitutional vote-of-no-confidence on Mukodza, and the national executive confirmed that position.

"There was chaos and Sikhosana had to call off the meeting, and was man-handled by some members from Midlands, Masvingo and Matabeleland South, who demanded that he repeal the decision to fire Mukodza," said the source.