Chipanga threatens anti-Mugabe protesters

Zanu-PF deputy youth league secretary Kudzi Chipanga said the ruling party is watching developments in the country with keen interest and will pounce on those protesting against President Robert Mugabe if the situation gets out of hand.

Zimbabwe is witnessing a series of protests against the government's failure to arrest socio-economic challenges faced by the country.

After a successful stay away last week, the government descended heavily on protestors just before the second round of the national shut down.

#ThisFlag campaigner Evan Mawarire was locked up and charged with trying to subvert a constitutionally-elected government before the matter crumbled at the court. Thousands of people had also gathered at the court in solidarity with Mawarire.

Chipanga told NewsDay Weekender that Zanu-PF youths had a mandate to safeguard Zimbabwe's sovereignty and Mugabe hence they will deal decisively with protestors once they feel the red line has been crossed.

This comes amid reports that the party was intimidating people against rising up against Mugabe's misrule.

"We are not going to disclose our strategy because they will do a counter to us. However, those local people (leaders of protests) who are on the forefront are not the enemies, the real enemies are the West and America," Chipanga said.

"We will keep on defending our sovereignty and as the youth league we are watching these developments closely. We promise the nation that we will not stand akimbo when we are under threat. The red button hasn't been press as yet and they day they press it then they will learn their hard lesson."

He said if people wanted to remove Mugabe then they should wait for the 2018 elections.

Chipanga accused the demonstrators of fearing elections and thus trying to employ "unorthodox means" to remove Mugabe.