Let us focus on the future: Sikhosana

The Zanu-PF Youth League, has over the past few weeks been in the eye of the storm with indications that members of the revolutionary party’s Main Wing have been interfering in the affairs of the body to their advantage, and especially so, in view of factional fights within the party. President Mugabe this week ordered hands-off on the youth wing, where some provincial youth leaders where facing suspensions and other sanctions. Our Senior Political Writer Tichaona Zindoga (TZ) pinned Zanu-PF’s Secretary for Youth Affairs, Cde Absolom Sikhosana (AS), down for his sentiments on the developments.

TZ: As the youth leader, what has been your assessment of the situation in the Youth League?
AS: The leadership has dealt with the matter and everything is now normal.

TZ: But can you locate the genesis of the problems that have been affecting the youth league?
AS: Those issues are now water under the bridge and I do not see any reason why you want to dig them up. We have closed that chapter and there are no issues to discuss. When the President has spoken who has the right or is qualified to talk about the issues?

TZ: Ideally, how does the youth league function and what is your role?
AS: I am guided by the party’s constitution and my role is to mobilise youths towards the party and educate them to put the party and the country first. That is the main responsibility of Sikhosana. We seek to continue the legacy of the revolution and not to allow Zimbabwe to be a colony again. I have no other mandate but to advance the legacy of the revolution politically, socially and economically and never to betray the legacy at any one point.

TZ: Can you describe your working relationship with the youths?
AS: The youths enjoy my leadership. They are so happy because at any given time I guide them accordingly. They like someone who is honest, upright and with the revolutionary attitude needed for the party to advance the people of Zimbabwe. And as of now, Zim-Asset is our war cry. We are all focusing our energy towards the success of the Zim-Asset programme. So, in our day-to-day interactions we implore youths to identify any area where they can play a role in Zim-Asset. Those on land we urge to maximise the use of that land to contribute towards food security and nutrition. For those in the social services sector, we urge them to put every effort in education and health and so on. It is the same with those in the infrastructure sector where we try to build their capacity so as to achieve something in line with Zim-Asset.

TZ: Thank you, some people have been remarking that you are only visible when translating speeches by President Mugabe.
AS: You see, I am a man of flesh. I want to take you to the period of the Son of God Jesus. He was waking the dead; healing the sick; giving sight to the sick and making all other miracles like making five loaves of bread to feed multitudes, turning water into wine at a wedding but people still crucified him on the cross. So what is Sikhosana to be able to satisfy everybody in every aspect. You have those who are very hard to please but what is important is to acquit yourself honestly and to the best of your ability.
If there are those who are unhappy about what Sikhosana is doing, it is nothing out of the ordinary; even President Mugabe has critics who say he should be sent to The Hague. So, that is something that does not make me lose sleep at all. In fact, that is their way of saying “Thank you, Sikhosana, for a job well done.” That is how they show appreciation.

TZ: What do you make of the model that President Mugabe is advocating, that there should not be interference from the main wings in the affairs of the youths?
AS: President Mugabe was loud and clear and we know everyone who is zanu-pf is going to act on his advice.

TZ: And how do you move on from here?
AS: I would most appreciate it if you spoke to us from time to time so that you would know better what we do. We are always mobilising and improving and trying to create synergies for them and this is what we need the press to highlight.