Desist from violence, youths urged

they retaliate.

Cde Kaukonde, who is the Zanu-PF national assembly candidate for Marondera Central, made the remarks while addressing youths in the constituency on Tuesday.

He will face MDC-T’s former legislator for the constituency Mr Ian Kay, Mr Kudzanai Mandaza of MDC and Mr Carlos Mudzongo, an independent.

“MDC-T people are launching their campaign here on Saturday and we expect you not to interfere with their activities,” said Cde Kaukonde.

“Don’t be violent even if they provoke you. Just concentrate on building the party and mobilising voters. We also do not expect you to interfere with Ian Kay’s campaigns. Just work hard for the party so that we can have a clean win. We want you all to register as voters so that we can win the forthcoming elections as a party.”

The Zanu-PF youths complained that their youth fund applications were not being approved by CABS.

CABS administers the US$10 million set aside by Old Mutual Fund to help young people in various empowerment projects in compliance with the indigenisation and economic empowerment drive.

Cde Kaukonde said he would engage the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Cde Saviour Kasukuwere so that his ministry could facilitate approval of the applications.

He also pledged to engage Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Cde Herbert Murerwa and Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Cde Ignatius Chombo so that they could allocate idle farms surrounding Marondera for residential purposes. The development, said Cde Kaukonde, would solve the accommodation crisis bedevilling the town.

Cde Kaukonde said Zanu-PF always prioritised providing decent accommodation for citizens.

He said he would engage the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board to use an idle building in Marondera that could be used as an auction floor.

Cde Kaukonde urged the youths in the area to be well mannered and be of good standing in the community.

“We want the youths who can be admired and respected by the elderly, youths who go to church and are God-fearing,” he said. “We don’t want youths who are violent. We want youths whom parents can wish were their sons or daughters-in-law.”