Chronicle EditorNyore Madzianike Eastern Edition Reporter
The zanu-pf Youth League in Manicaland Province has resolved to field candidates from its wing to contest in the province’s 26 constituencies and all wards during primary elections in preparation for 2018 harmonised elections.
The Manicaland youth executive told The Herald that they had decided to field candidates to contest during primary elections for council and parliamentary seats in all wards and constituencies.
They said the idea was to have youthful leaders that represented them at national level.
Youth chairman Cde Mubuso Chinguno said no candidate would enter next year’s harmonised elections on an uncontested ticket.
“We are fed up of candidates who want to use the youths during elections and forget them once elections are over. We are tired of being used by such people who will forget about the plight of people who would have driven them into office,” he said.
Cde Chinguno added: “I have also observed that as youths we constitute 65 percent of the national population. We want to take that advantage because we are tired of some leaders from certain areas who like us during elections and once they win they forget about the plight of the youths.
“You would note that Manicaland province is the richest province in the country, we have diamonds, gold, copper, you mention it. We also have eight ministers, three deputy ministers and the youths in Manicaland province remain the poorest in the country. It is because those in leadership positions will grab all the opportunities, monies and only think of themselves and their families forgetting about the youths. They think of selfish gains at the expense of the youths. As youths in Manicaland province, we are tired of such type of leaders. They are the ones at the forefront in brewing conflicts within the party because they promise youths Heaven on Earth then fail to do even two out of 100 things they would have promised towards elections.
“To solve that we also resolved that the only candidate that is assured of an uncontested seat and winning is President Mugabe. But in all the 26 constituencies in Manicaland province youths are going to participate at primary elections. For all wards in Manicaland, youths are going to contest as councillors so that we will also have ministers who will be taken from youth league. That way, the youths will think of their colleagues when they are in leadership positions. We are saying there are no sacred cows in Manicaland. The only candidate assured of a seat is President Mugabe and that has already been confirmed. But for the rest, they are going to square off with the youths at primary elections,” he said.
Cde Chinguno said those who had been working well with the youths might be spared from squaring off with youths during the primary elections.
He, however, vowed that those who neglected the youths over the past years would face the music.
“Those who know very well that they have been neglecting the youths during the time they were in office should be assured that a youth member will be contesting for their seat. Those who had a habit of switching off their mobile phones when youths called them should also be assured that they are going to face the music. We have mobilised our youths and they are all ware of it. Heads will roll this time around,” he said.
Cde Chinguno urged the youths to shun violence, as they pursued their agendas of contesting in primary elections.
He said the processes should be peacefully executed.
Online Reporter