News / National
Disqualified Zanu-PF official bounces back
18 Feb 2014 at 07:14hrs | Views
FORMER Midlands Zanu PF provincial youth chairman Edmore Samambwa, who was disqualified from his position after winning the provincial elections late last year, has bounced back after challenging the decision through his lawyer Valentine Mutatu.
Samambwa had been disqualified and replaced by his contender Tanaka Manyadza after he was ruled too old to remain youth chairman at 35 years.
The Zanu PF youth league had set an age limit of 15-30 years for its members.
Samambwa said his disqualification was unlawful and questioned why it had been done after he had won the polls.
The party activist told NewsDay yesterday that he now attends Zanu PF's Midlands provincial executive meetings as the substantive youth chairman.
"I am back. It was a temporary setback, but now we are on the ground and rolling out programmes to benefit Zimbabwean youths as we look into the future. I won those elections after my CV had been vetted and accepted by the party. If I was to be disqualified, surely it should have happened at the time of vetting," Samambwa said.
Although, both Manyadza and provincial chairman Jason Machaya could not be reached for comment, Zanu PF central committee member Douglas Tapfumanei confirmed that Samambwa's suspension had been lifted by the party's politburo.
"He was confirmed by the politburo as the winner of those elections that is why he is leading his charges," Tapfumanei said.
Samambwa had been disqualified and replaced by his contender Tanaka Manyadza after he was ruled too old to remain youth chairman at 35 years.
The Zanu PF youth league had set an age limit of 15-30 years for its members.
Samambwa said his disqualification was unlawful and questioned why it had been done after he had won the polls.
"I am back. It was a temporary setback, but now we are on the ground and rolling out programmes to benefit Zimbabwean youths as we look into the future. I won those elections after my CV had been vetted and accepted by the party. If I was to be disqualified, surely it should have happened at the time of vetting," Samambwa said.
Although, both Manyadza and provincial chairman Jason Machaya could not be reached for comment, Zanu PF central committee member Douglas Tapfumanei confirmed that Samambwa's suspension had been lifted by the party's politburo.
"He was confirmed by the politburo as the winner of those elections that is why he is leading his charges," Tapfumanei said.
Source - NewsDay
