'I am not Mugabe's spokesman,' Mutasa rejects accusation

ZANU PF acting secretary for finance Didymus Mutasa yesterday distanced himself from the shambolic preparation of the party's youth conference characterised by lack of food for the delegates.

President Robert Mugabe had to offer his own maize along with cattle to feed starving youth delegates.

He also directed management at Gushungo Dairy to deliver milk for the over 3 000 delegates staying at various colleges in Harare.

Asked if the remarks were an indictment on the conference organisers, Mutasa said he did not know. "I wouldn't know," he said. "Ask him (President Mugabe) or his secretary. I am not his spokesman."

Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said he did not know if the remarks were a denunciation, suffice to say the ruling party was in a precarious financial position.

"Well, look, I don't know. The fact is that the party is facing challenges of money," he said.

The Zanu PF youths attending the elective conference were said to have slept on empty stomachs on Thursday night before Mugabe intervened.

Mugabe said he had constituted a select committee to rescue the conference, warning those behind the shambolic preparations not to "cry" at the forthcoming elective Congress.

"The whole of the Central Committee has been sitting to plan these conferences on the basis that the financial side of the party, those who are responsible for raising finances of the party, are doing so, only to be told that we don't even have a single cent," Mugabe raged.