News / National
Jockeying for Zanu-PF youth league post starts
17 May 2014 at 07:59hrs | Views
THE Zanu-PF national youth league elections are just by the corner with three legislators reportedly expressing enthusiasm to contest for the second strategic post of deputy secretary for youth affairs - which catapults the winner into the Politburo.
Though the legislators will have to first make it into the provincial baskets, that stage appears as good as done for Kudzanai Chipanga, the legislator for Makoni West (Manicaland), Mike Gava, of Mhondoro-Ngezi in Mashonaland West and Justice Major Wadyejena of Gokwe-Nembudziya in Midlands.
The incumbent, Edison Chakanyuka, who is battling allegations of stealing a tonne of sugar meant for President Mugabe's 90th birthday celebrations, is also seeking re-election.
Chakanyuka, also of Midlands, assumed the post in 2009 after shrugging off challenge from Anastancia Ndlovu.
Gava and Chipanga are also members of the outgoing national executive and served as secretaries for commissariat and external affairs, respectively.
Other outgoing executives include Obert Mutasa (secretary for finance), John Mushai, Lesman Humbe, Khumbulani Mlilo, Bekezela Sibanda, Ndlovu, Clopas Magwizi, Agnes Chigwada, Yeukai Simbanegavi, Joshua Sacco and Tongai Kasukuwere, among others.
The jockeying for the post as well as other national slots has started with those eyeing for power using last Friday's belated Manicaland provincial 21st Movement celebrations held at Masvosva Business Centre in Makoni West as a launch pad.
The celebrations drew a nationalistic outlook as high-powered delegations from Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Harare, Bulawayo and Masvingo converged in Rusape to make friends, network and lobby for power.
The elections are expected to be held between July and August.
Chipanga, whose Makoni West constituency hosted the celebrations, refused to divulge his ambitions.
"We can discuss anything minus the elections. This is a belated occasion to celebrate the 90th birthday of President Mugabe by the youths of Manicaland, not an electioneering platform. We are celebrating not canvassing," said Chipanga.
Gava also attended the celebrations.
Manicaland youth chairperson Kelvin Manyengavana, while admitting that jockeying for national posts had started, warned that some of those canvassing risk falling by the wayside.
The Manica Post understands that apart from Chipanga, nine other candidates were vying for the four national slots allocated to Zanu-PF in Manicaland.
These are Sheila Mutsenhu (Mutare), Lovemore Chibvura (Nyanga), Humbe (Buhera), Admire Mahachi (Zimunya-Marange), Betty Dhliwayo (Chipinge), Sacco (Chinaminani) and Cdes Luckson Momberume, Onai Ndemera and Kudzi Mariga (all of Mutare District).
"It is not best for me to comment on elections before being given the dates and guidelines by our national superiors. Once the guidelines and dates are out, we will call for the provincial inter-district conference and make public the selection criteria. People are free to canvass in politics, but the danger is that some might not fit within the criteria and may end up enduring some pain because they are putting the cart before the horse," said Manyengavana.
One of the hitches some candidates might stumble on is age.
Zanu-PF last year set the age limit for candidates vying for posts in the youth league at 30 years.
This was made clear in a letter by Sikhosana, which reads:
"Article 23 section 187 of the party's Constitution stipulates that age limit for the youth is 15-30 years. There has been, however, an accepted understanding that internationally and even in the African Union Charter, youths are those aged between 15-35 years."
"What this literally means is that no one should occupy office in youth structures in the event that they attain 35 years before the expiry of such term of office.
"Following prolonged debates and various permutations the Politburo of the 7th of November 2013, directed that candidates in the youth structures should be those who are 30 years old and below so that they complete their term before crossing the 35 age limit."
The directive last year claimed the scalp of the then newly elected Midlands provincial youth chairperson Edmore Samambwa who, at 35 years, was ruled as too old to lead the youth league. Samambwa was immediately replaced by his rival Tanaka Manyasa whom he had defeated in the polls.
A Zanu-PF source privy to the goings-on in the youth league was adamant that the campaign by the three legislators was in full throttle.
"It is true that the three legislators and the incumbent are eyeing the post to deputise Sikhosana. They have runners on the ground canvassing for support from provincial executive committees. It is a battle for combative young Turks and it is very interesting," said the source.
Another source said there was pressure from Manicaland and Harare province to have the post assumed on rotational basis. Manicaland and Harare are the only two provinces that have not assumed the post.
"There is serious lobbying by the two provinces of Manicaland and Harare to have the position being assumed on rotational basis. If you go back to the archives of the party's national youth league, you will realise that the late Ernest Kadungure once assumed it and was from Mashonaland East, Webster Shamu was from Mashonaland West, Saviour Kasukuwere from Mashonaland Central, Kembo Mohadi from Matabeleland South and Bulawayo has Sikhosana. The Midlands is the current holder of the post.
"You do not find Manicaland and Harare provinces anywhere in the jig-saw puzzle and what we are saying is that are there not competent young cadres from their provinces who can do it at the top? Their argument is that they cannot continue being used as cannon fodder by youth leaders from other provinces. They believe it's the turn of candidates from either of the two provinces," said the source.
Though the legislators will have to first make it into the provincial baskets, that stage appears as good as done for Kudzanai Chipanga, the legislator for Makoni West (Manicaland), Mike Gava, of Mhondoro-Ngezi in Mashonaland West and Justice Major Wadyejena of Gokwe-Nembudziya in Midlands.
The incumbent, Edison Chakanyuka, who is battling allegations of stealing a tonne of sugar meant for President Mugabe's 90th birthday celebrations, is also seeking re-election.
Chakanyuka, also of Midlands, assumed the post in 2009 after shrugging off challenge from Anastancia Ndlovu.
Gava and Chipanga are also members of the outgoing national executive and served as secretaries for commissariat and external affairs, respectively.
Other outgoing executives include Obert Mutasa (secretary for finance), John Mushai, Lesman Humbe, Khumbulani Mlilo, Bekezela Sibanda, Ndlovu, Clopas Magwizi, Agnes Chigwada, Yeukai Simbanegavi, Joshua Sacco and Tongai Kasukuwere, among others.
The jockeying for the post as well as other national slots has started with those eyeing for power using last Friday's belated Manicaland provincial 21st Movement celebrations held at Masvosva Business Centre in Makoni West as a launch pad.
The celebrations drew a nationalistic outlook as high-powered delegations from Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Harare, Bulawayo and Masvingo converged in Rusape to make friends, network and lobby for power.
The elections are expected to be held between July and August.
Chipanga, whose Makoni West constituency hosted the celebrations, refused to divulge his ambitions.
"We can discuss anything minus the elections. This is a belated occasion to celebrate the 90th birthday of President Mugabe by the youths of Manicaland, not an electioneering platform. We are celebrating not canvassing," said Chipanga.
Gava also attended the celebrations.
Manicaland youth chairperson Kelvin Manyengavana, while admitting that jockeying for national posts had started, warned that some of those canvassing risk falling by the wayside.
The Manica Post understands that apart from Chipanga, nine other candidates were vying for the four national slots allocated to Zanu-PF in Manicaland.
"It is not best for me to comment on elections before being given the dates and guidelines by our national superiors. Once the guidelines and dates are out, we will call for the provincial inter-district conference and make public the selection criteria. People are free to canvass in politics, but the danger is that some might not fit within the criteria and may end up enduring some pain because they are putting the cart before the horse," said Manyengavana.
One of the hitches some candidates might stumble on is age.
Zanu-PF last year set the age limit for candidates vying for posts in the youth league at 30 years.
This was made clear in a letter by Sikhosana, which reads:
"Article 23 section 187 of the party's Constitution stipulates that age limit for the youth is 15-30 years. There has been, however, an accepted understanding that internationally and even in the African Union Charter, youths are those aged between 15-35 years."
"What this literally means is that no one should occupy office in youth structures in the event that they attain 35 years before the expiry of such term of office.
"Following prolonged debates and various permutations the Politburo of the 7th of November 2013, directed that candidates in the youth structures should be those who are 30 years old and below so that they complete their term before crossing the 35 age limit."
The directive last year claimed the scalp of the then newly elected Midlands provincial youth chairperson Edmore Samambwa who, at 35 years, was ruled as too old to lead the youth league. Samambwa was immediately replaced by his rival Tanaka Manyasa whom he had defeated in the polls.
A Zanu-PF source privy to the goings-on in the youth league was adamant that the campaign by the three legislators was in full throttle.
"It is true that the three legislators and the incumbent are eyeing the post to deputise Sikhosana. They have runners on the ground canvassing for support from provincial executive committees. It is a battle for combative young Turks and it is very interesting," said the source.
Another source said there was pressure from Manicaland and Harare province to have the post assumed on rotational basis. Manicaland and Harare are the only two provinces that have not assumed the post.
"There is serious lobbying by the two provinces of Manicaland and Harare to have the position being assumed on rotational basis. If you go back to the archives of the party's national youth league, you will realise that the late Ernest Kadungure once assumed it and was from Mashonaland East, Webster Shamu was from Mashonaland West, Saviour Kasukuwere from Mashonaland Central, Kembo Mohadi from Matabeleland South and Bulawayo has Sikhosana. The Midlands is the current holder of the post.
"You do not find Manicaland and Harare provinces anywhere in the jig-saw puzzle and what we are saying is that are there not competent young cadres from their provinces who can do it at the top? Their argument is that they cannot continue being used as cannon fodder by youth leaders from other provinces. They believe it's the turn of candidates from either of the two provinces," said the source.
Source - manicapost
