Ruvimbo Chakanyuka in SOCHI, Russia
AFRICAN youths and students attending the 19th festival for youths and students here have set aside a day to celebrate President Mugabe for his determined stand against imperialism.
The event will run under the theme “President Robert Mugabe: The champion of land redistribution and total restoration of natural resources from imperialists to the African masses”.
In an interview yesterday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Youth Affairs Cde Kudzai Chipanga, who is also in Russia for the International Festival of Youths and Students, described President Mugabe as a revolutionary leader who has been leading from the front in pushing for economic emancipation for both Zimbabweans and Africans.
This, he said, has been manifested through the country’s land reform programme, which has made Zimbabwe one of the few countries on the continent to restore land to its rightful owners, the indigenes.
He also noted that President Mugabe’s academic excellence should encourage African youths to pursue education so that they become exemplary leaders capable of formulating sound policies that help improve livelihoods.
Speaking at the same forum, South Africa’s ANC Youth League secretary-general Cde Njabulo Nzuza said President Mugabe was a living example of the leadership that Africa needs for it to move forward.
He also challenged youths at the festival to be proactive and take the initiative rather than waiting for conferences and festivals in foreign capitals in order to discuss the continent’s politics and economics.
Responding to the proposed idea of convening one such meeting on the continent, Cde Chipanga suggested that the Zanu-PF Youth League would be happy to oblige.



