Zanu-PF youths jostle for Chipanga's post

Zanu-PF youths from the Generation 40 (G40) faction are already campaigning to fill in the post of deputy youth secretary left vacant after Kudzanai Chipanga's promotion last week.

Following President Robert Mugabe's unilateral elevation of Chipanga to become the league's boss - replacing ousted Pupurai Togarepi - insiders told the Daily News that intense jockeying to replace the Makoni South legislator has ensued.

Some of the aspiring candidates said to have already begun canvassing for support, although they are all from the G40 camp, include the league's finance secretary Tongai Kasukuwere - who lost to Chipanga in 2014, political commissar Innocent Hamandishe, secretary for external affairs Mphehlabayo Malinga and national executive member Annastancia Ndlovu.

While Kasukuwere and Ndlovu played down the said campaigns, a youth league executive member insisted that campaigning was already in full swing in various provinces.

"Given that the post of deputy youth secretary is constitutionally subject to an election, the elevation of Chipanga has seen youths canvassing for support already in anticipation of an election," the league member said on condition of anonymity," adding that "some members are pushing for a woman likely to be Ndlovu while others want Malinga in order to balance Zanu-PF's tribal politics".

"Others also sympathise with Kasukuwere after he lost to Chipanga," the anonymous executive member said.

"Team Lacoste is also running around to come up with a candidate to challenge for the post.

"They also want to challenge for the post of secretary for administration, which will also be contested although the general feeling among the executive members is that Exevia Kazizi, currently in an acting capacity, should be handed the post substantively".

The post of secretary for administration in the Zanu-PF youth league fell vacant after Lewis Matutu - viewed as Vice President Mnangagwa's ally - was expelled from the party on allegations fanning divisions.

Kasukuwere confirmed that there were moves to fill Chipanga's post, but denied that there was a battle among league members to land the post.

"It is not something that we are losing sleep about because we are all comfortable with the positions we currently hold. It is not about positions but working for the party and as for me, I am happy where I am and am determined to deliver in that capacity," Kasukuwere told the Daily News.

He added that far from fighting for positions, the league was "happy that the president chose one of our own to become our secretary".

"We have been working well since we started operating like this and the president, in his wisdom, saw it fit to appoint a youth. We will stand guided by the party on Chipanga's replacement but we will not do it in a manner that will divide us.

"We may just sit down and decide which comrade will best do the job for us," he added.

On the other hand, Ndlovu said she would not canvass for support as it was alien to Zanu-PF where "leaders come from the people".

"We were taught that positions are given to you by the people not for us to go about campaigning, so I am not concentrating on that," Ndlovu said.