Zanu-PF youths face boot

Nduduzo Tshuma Political Editor
THE Zanu-PF youth league is setting up a committee to decide the fate of wayward members who have been attacking the party’s leadership including First Lady Cde Grace Mugabe, an official said yesterday.

Party secretary for youth affairs Cde Pupurai Togarepi said the committee would comprise up to seven members and would deal with individual cases to determine the gravity of offences that could see some youths being expelled from the party.

“We are already working on setting up a committee that will have between four to seven members that will look at the various cases where youths insulted leadership through social media.

“We want to warn those youths who are still members of these social media groups that denigrate leadership to exit them forthwith. Those who want to test the water can remain in those platforms and we will chuck them out of the party,” said Cde Togarepi.

“Despite the fact that some cases are quite apparent, President Mugabe has said that we allow the laws of natural justice to take place and culprits be taken for hearings. Some will be reprimanded, others suspended and obviously there will be those that will be expelled from the party based on the gravity of their offences.”

Cde Togarepi said the party would not hesitate to rid itself of delinquents. He said the party youths should be disciplined at all times.

President Mugabe at the weekend castigated attacks on the First Lady by some Zanu-PF youths saying such lack of discipline would not be tolerated in the party.

Speaking at his 92nd birthday celebrations at the Great Zimbabwe Monument in Masvingo last Saturday, President Mugabe bemoaned lack of discipline among some youths who have been attacking the leadership lately.

Cde Togarepi hailed President Mugabe’s warning up to the youth league’s proposal for February 21 that coincides with the President’s birthday to be declared National Youth Day.

“We’re very excited and really appreciate the warming up to our proposal that we have been making from the past three years that we declare the day a national holiday in honour of our President. We now have the support of the leadership and all the youths in the party are happy,” said Cde Togarepi.

“We now wait for the proposal to go through all the relevant channels towards the promulgation of the holiday.”

He said he was happy to be praised by the President for successfully organising the party.

“I will tell you what I’ve never told anyone. I’ve loved my President since I was a toddler and when I had my second son, I named him Gabriel after my President. When you work for a person you love so much and they heap praises on your for your little efforts, you just can’t help but be happy,” said Cde Togarepi.