News / National
Zanu-PF Harare youth, provincial leadership clash
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ZANU-PF youth members in Harare are in open rebellion against their provincial leadership, accusing them of sidelining them in key party projects, including the controversial transformation of the party's Zone 4 offices in Borrowdale into a shopping mall. The facility now reportedly houses a bar and a swimming pool, with the proceeds allegedly being pocketed by party leadership, sparking outrage among youth members.
Sources within the party have revealed that the Borrowdale project, which was turned into a commercial space, was carried out without any formal party resolution, leading to accusations of mismanagement and corruption. The youths are particularly aggrieved as they no longer have a designated space to host their party meetings in the area, a move that has left many feeling excluded from key activities.
At a recent Harare provincial co-ordinating committee (PCC) meeting, tempers flared as Emmanuel Mahachi, the youth chairperson, voiced his frustrations. Mahachi allegedly accused some senior members of the provincial leadership of receiving bribes of up to US$50,000 to facilitate the project. He also expressed discontent with the leadership's disregard for the youth wing, saying, "We no longer have a space to host our party meetings in Borrowdale, which is Zone 4, after the area was turned into a bar."
In an exclusive interview with NewsDay, Mahachi confirmed the youth's unhappiness with the arrangement, asserting that their concerns were not being addressed. "I spoke about this during our PCC, but I was speaking on behalf of the youth as their leader. As youth, we are not happy with the arrangement and we are not happy at all. Something must be done," Mahachi said.
The Borrowdale project is not the only issue troubling the youth wing. Sources also claim that they have been sidelined in other projects, including those in Mbare, further deepening frustrations within the party ranks.
ZANU-PF Harare provincial vice-chairperson Ephraim Fundukwa, when contacted for comment, denied being aware of the complaints raised by the youth. "For me to comment, I should have PCC minutes first," Fundukwa said, indicating he had not been briefed on the issue.
The youth wing's complaints are part of a wider sense of disillusionment with the current leadership, as members from various constituencies, including Borrowdale, Hatcliffe, Harare West, Harare East, Mt Pleasant, and Sunningdale, express growing dissatisfaction over their lack of involvement in critical party initiatives.
With tensions rising, it remains to be seen how the provincial leadership will address these mounting grievances and whether the youth will receive a greater role in future projects.
Sources within the party have revealed that the Borrowdale project, which was turned into a commercial space, was carried out without any formal party resolution, leading to accusations of mismanagement and corruption. The youths are particularly aggrieved as they no longer have a designated space to host their party meetings in the area, a move that has left many feeling excluded from key activities.
At a recent Harare provincial co-ordinating committee (PCC) meeting, tempers flared as Emmanuel Mahachi, the youth chairperson, voiced his frustrations. Mahachi allegedly accused some senior members of the provincial leadership of receiving bribes of up to US$50,000 to facilitate the project. He also expressed discontent with the leadership's disregard for the youth wing, saying, "We no longer have a space to host our party meetings in Borrowdale, which is Zone 4, after the area was turned into a bar."
In an exclusive interview with NewsDay, Mahachi confirmed the youth's unhappiness with the arrangement, asserting that their concerns were not being addressed. "I spoke about this during our PCC, but I was speaking on behalf of the youth as their leader. As youth, we are not happy with the arrangement and we are not happy at all. Something must be done," Mahachi said.
The Borrowdale project is not the only issue troubling the youth wing. Sources also claim that they have been sidelined in other projects, including those in Mbare, further deepening frustrations within the party ranks.
ZANU-PF Harare provincial vice-chairperson Ephraim Fundukwa, when contacted for comment, denied being aware of the complaints raised by the youth. "For me to comment, I should have PCC minutes first," Fundukwa said, indicating he had not been briefed on the issue.
The youth wing's complaints are part of a wider sense of disillusionment with the current leadership, as members from various constituencies, including Borrowdale, Hatcliffe, Harare West, Harare East, Mt Pleasant, and Sunningdale, express growing dissatisfaction over their lack of involvement in critical party initiatives.
With tensions rising, it remains to be seen how the provincial leadership will address these mounting grievances and whether the youth will receive a greater role in future projects.
Source - newsday
