Zanu PF youths gear up for 1 million men march

via Zanu PF youths gear up for 1 million men march – NewsDay Zimbabwe March 24, 2016

The Zanu PF youth league has begun mobilisation for a one million men march in solidarity with President Robert Mugabe, who is under pressure from war veterans to act on a faction in the ruling party, which appears to be calling the shots.

BY Jairos Saunyama

Addressing thousands of Zanu PF youth drawn from Mashonaland East province’s 23 constituencies at a rally held at Mbuya Nehanda Hall in Marondera yesterday, youth league deputy secretary, Kudzai Chipanga said one million youths will storm Harare in the first week of May for the march.

“We have individuals in Zanu PF from some affiliated associations, who are saying rubbish things, anticipating President Mugabe’s death to die for them to take power. He (Mugabe) was elected by the people and, therefore, no one will ever dare to remove him,” he said.

“As the youths, we are not going to stand akimbo watching. No, no! We are not going to relax. My father told me that selling out has no age limit and this is why we have people like Joice Mujuru, Didymus Mutasa and many others who left. We will stand by our leaders in such situations.”
Chipanga said each of the 10 provinces would mobilise 100 000 youths for the march.

Zanu PF is currently divided along factional lines with one dubbed Team Lacoste and reportedly linked to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, while the G40 group reportedly has the backing of First Lady Grace Mugabe. Chipanga reportedly belongs to G40.

He also urged ousted War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa to “shut up” as he was not the only person who voted for Mugabe.

“Some of these people have benefited and now have companies, farms and other businesses among other things through President Mugabe. Now they want him to go,” he said.

“What about us, the youth? He is not going anywhere. We all want to benefit as the youths of Zimbabwe. Mutsvangwa should shut up. He is not the only person who voted for Mugabe as we the youths voted as well.

“We have Vice-Presidents Joseph Msika and Simon Muzenda, who died while in power. What is wrong with Mugabe doing that? How can someone say he loves the President, while hating his wife or Chatunga (Mugabe’s son)?”

Manicaland youth chairperson, Mubuso Chinguno accused Team Lacoste of being hungry for power and plotting unconstitutional means to remove Mugabe from power.

“Team Lacoste is hungry for power, they won’t succeed in removing President Mugabe unconstitutionally because he was elected by the people,” he said.

“We, as youths, we are the vanguard of the party and we will mobilise ourselves for the march in solidarity with our President, who is also our 2018 candidate.”

Chipanga introduced a new slogan NavaMugabe, Handei Tione (Let’s rally behind Mugabe). The phrase handei tione (let’s go) was popularised by Moyo as a signature for many of his posts on Twitter. The Marondera rally was attended by national youth political commissar, Innocent Hamandishe, Youth minister Patrick Zhuwao, Minister of State for Mashonaland East province Ambrose Mutinhiri, interim Zanu PF provincial chairperson, Bernard Makokove and a number of the party’s legislators.