THE Zanu PF youth league is reportedly divided over plans
to amend the party’s constitution to allow for the re-introduction of the
women’s quota, largely seen as meant to catapult First Lady Grace Mugabe into
the presidium.
This came as Grace’s allies were said to be pushing for her
elevation to the post of Vice-President at the party’s extraordinary congress
set for December.
President Robert Mugabe has agreed to turn the Zanu PF
annual people’s conference, slated for Gwanda, into an elective congress after
succumbing to pressure from the party’s Young Turks.
The party’s Young Turks, also known by the monicker G40,
are allegedly plotting to use the event to either push out Vice-President
Emmerson Mnangagwa and replace him with Grace or create the post of a third
Vice-President to sneak the First Lady in.
Tempers reportedly flared when Zanu PF youth league
national executive members debated the matter at the ongoing International
Festival of Students and Youth in Sochi, Russia.
According to sources, tempers boiled over after some
executives accused league secretary Kudzanayi Chipanga of resisting efforts to
amend the party constitution to allow for Grace’s elevation.
“There are major disagreements and things boiled over in
Russia where Kudzi Chipanga clashed with political commissar Innocent
Hamandishe, among other G40 (aligned) youths. They accused Chipanga of being
Lacoste (a faction linked to Mnangagwa) and frustrating their efforts to push
through a resolution demanding the re-introduction of a woman in the
presidium,” NewsDay heard.
“Chipanga is accused of not playing ball, but the issue is
the purported resolution is being pushed on factional lines and through the
back door.”
Chipanga and Hamandishe were not available for comment
yesterday as they were reportedly still in Russia, while youth league secretary
for administration Xavier Kazizi professed ignorance over the alleged
disagreements.
“I am not aware of that. You can ask, I came with the
others,” Kazizi said.
While addressing Zanu PF supporters in Manicaland two
months ago, Mugabe warned Chipanga against “selling out”.
“If you want to follow our footsteps, continue to do so
well. Do not succumb to trinkets such as cars and houses,” Mugabe said.
Sources in Zanu PF at the time said Chipanga’s G40
adversaries had been trying to paint him as a Mnangagwa ally as part of a
sinister plot to get him expelled from the party ahead of next year’s
elections.
“They have been whispering in the President’s ear that
Chipanga was given a car and a house by people connected to the VP, which is a
lie,” insiders claimed.
Zanu PF provincial co-ordinating committees last weekend
held meetings to endorse the call for an extraordinary congress that, according
to the party’s constitution, is normally only held “if there is a vacancy in
the office of national President or if the President wants to appoint a
successor”.
Mugabe has, however, argued against appointing a successor
despite pressure from his wife and mainly the G40 faction. The ailing
93-year-old Zanu PF leader argues “it is the people who shall appoint my
successor”.
He has also rejected claims that he was setting up his wife
to take over from him. The G40 faction has shifted goalposts and were now
pushing for Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi to succeed Mugabe.
Grace, who was yesterday reportedly in China, was expected
to arrive in Russia on Sunday with her delegation of approximately 20 people.
Government sources indicated that she would meet some top
businesspeople and bureaucrats during her week-long private-business visit.
Meanwhile, Russian ambassador to Zimbabwe Sergey Bakharev
yesterday denied claims that the youth festival was “low-key” as it was
organised by the World Federation of Democratic Youth, a United Nations-recognised
international organisation, and has been held regularly since 1947.
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