News / National
Zanu-PF million men march in limbo
16 Apr 2016 at 13:34hrs | Views
THE Zanu-PF youth league's proposed one million men march in solidarity with President Robert Mugabe is reportedly in limbo due to financial difficulties and "internal sabotage", as factionalism continues to gnaw into the ruling party's backbone.
While officials tried to put a brave face, it has emerged the factional fights within the party are hampering organisers' efforts to fundraise for the demonstration tentatively set for the first week of May.
"They have run into problems because most party bigwigs approached by the youths across the provinces for finance have snubbed them. It is not a small job to transport 100 000 people from each province, accommodate them and provide food. The youths have set themselves up for failure," a Zanu-PF politburo member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
The youth league's Manicaland branch has publicly indicated its "displeasure" at senior leaders' unwillingness to fund the event.
It has emerged the youth league was banking on the National Youth Fund to finance the demonstration, but they seemed to have hit a brickwall.
Insiders said there was an internal rift between Indigenisation minister Patrick Zhuwao and youth leader, Acie Lumumba, recently appointed as chair of the steering committee of the recently formed Zimbabwe Youth Empowerment Strategy for Investment.
"Lumumba is among those organising the march and is also heavily involved with the Youth Fund. They wanted to use this to fund the demonstration, but there are now serious disagreements and Lumumba has been removed as chairperson of one of the committees dealing with financial institutions," sources said.
Zhuwao could not be reached for comment yesterday, while Lumumba was unwilling to engage on the issue.
Zanu-PF secretary for youth in the politburo, Pupurai Togarepi, however, insisted preparations for the march were going on smoothly.
"We are involved in the organisation of the march. I am not aware of any challenges in raising funds," Togarepi said, adding dates would be advised "at the appropriate time".
Deputy youth secretary, Kudzai Chipanga denied reports the march was in jeopardy.
"The one million men march is not in jeopardy at all. We are still at the mobilisation stage and then we will be looking at the fundraising later on".
While officials tried to put a brave face, it has emerged the factional fights within the party are hampering organisers' efforts to fundraise for the demonstration tentatively set for the first week of May.
"They have run into problems because most party bigwigs approached by the youths across the provinces for finance have snubbed them. It is not a small job to transport 100 000 people from each province, accommodate them and provide food. The youths have set themselves up for failure," a Zanu-PF politburo member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
The youth league's Manicaland branch has publicly indicated its "displeasure" at senior leaders' unwillingness to fund the event.
It has emerged the youth league was banking on the National Youth Fund to finance the demonstration, but they seemed to have hit a brickwall.
Insiders said there was an internal rift between Indigenisation minister Patrick Zhuwao and youth leader, Acie Lumumba, recently appointed as chair of the steering committee of the recently formed Zimbabwe Youth Empowerment Strategy for Investment.
"Lumumba is among those organising the march and is also heavily involved with the Youth Fund. They wanted to use this to fund the demonstration, but there are now serious disagreements and Lumumba has been removed as chairperson of one of the committees dealing with financial institutions," sources said.
Zhuwao could not be reached for comment yesterday, while Lumumba was unwilling to engage on the issue.
Zanu-PF secretary for youth in the politburo, Pupurai Togarepi, however, insisted preparations for the march were going on smoothly.
"We are involved in the organisation of the march. I am not aware of any challenges in raising funds," Togarepi said, adding dates would be advised "at the appropriate time".
Deputy youth secretary, Kudzai Chipanga denied reports the march was in jeopardy.
"The one million men march is not in jeopardy at all. We are still at the mobilisation stage and then we will be looking at the fundraising later on".
Source - newsday
