via Kasukuwere youths terrorise Chiweshe – NewZimbabwe 14 January 2015
ENVIRONMENT minister Savior Kasukuwere’s image is being torn apart in Chiweshe as residents blame him for allegedly bringing in lawless ghost workers into the area during the time he was in the youth empowerment portfolio.
In interviews with NewZimbabwe.com residents in Chiweshe had no kind words for Kasukuwere, accusing him of recruiting the youths who are now wreaking havoc in the area.
“None can stop them from doing what they want. At food or seed handout programs they take the larger share claiming that they are government officials. We cannot voice,’’ said a villager who identified herself as Mai Anna.
Villagers said Kasukuwere recruited thousands of ghost workers masquerading as youth coordinators immediately after the violent 2008 presidential run off election, ostensibly to reward them for their violent role in ZANU PF’s “victory”.
Zanu PF youths went on the rampage beating up opposition members. As a result thousands of opposition supporters were maimed and others even killed during the disputable bloody election.
A local teacher who refused to be named for fear of victimization expressed concern at the number of these youth coordinators in his community, “Imagine in this ward alone we have 5 ghost workers. At beer halls and shebeens they brag that they are better off than teachers since they got their bonuses earlier.
“But what is disappointing is that they don’t even have qualifications. What lessons are we teaching our children? They will be discouraged from learning.
“This is because of Kasukuwere who recruited these youths in 2008 when he was the deputy minister of youths to reward them for their role during the 2008 presidential elections. They saved ZANU PF from collapse by attacking opposition supporters. There was bloodshed here,” he said.
The combative ZANU PF political commissar, Kasukuwere was the minister of youth empowerment, indigenization and employment creation from 2009 to 2013. He deputized in the same ministry before 2008.
On Wednesday his phone went unanswered.
Allocation of opportunities on partisan grounds is a common thing in Zimbabwe. At colleges and universities mostly those aligned to ZANU PF are given the first preference.
Reports of ghost workers being stationed in various government departments dominated most of last year.
Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa has previously complained of a swelling wage bill that has reached a staggering 82% caused by a bloated civil service.
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