The ZANU PF Youth League has dismissed unfounded claims by expelled former youth leader Jim Kunaka alleging that the ruling party’s leadership has a power transfer deal.
The youth league says Kunaka has no legal standing to speak on behalf of the revolutionary party.
A video in which Kunaka appears flanked by a team which calls itself the “Original ZANU PF Youths” has been circulating on various social media platforms claiming that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy General (Retd) Dr Constantino Chiwenga have a power transfer arrangement.
In a media briefing in Gweru this Tuesday, the Youth League dismissed the unfounded claims saying the revolutionary party subscribes to its constitution, adding that Kunaka and his ally Godfrey Tsenengamu who left the party to form his own movement are outsiders who should never be taken seriously on revolutionary party matters.
ZANU PF Youth League Secretary for Legal Affairs, Cde Phineas Makombe said, “This morbid comedy of error is led by one Tsenengamu and a Jim Kunaka. With regards to the legality of their claims I have seen it most prudent to refer to the self-same constitution that is the cornerstone of our Revolutionary Party. First and foremost: there is no party structure called “Original ZANU PF Youths”. These two agent provocateurs, charlatans and kantangaras characters have not been reinstated into the Party which long expelled them,” he said.
On allegations that President Mnangagwa is forming parallel structures through the formation of organisations that support his vision, Cde Makombe said the assertions are being peddled by people who are not well informed about the history of the revolutionary movement.
“Furthermore, the same chapter 1 (sub section 2) states that; “any organization, association or society whose members are citizens or residents of Zimbabwe and whose aims and objectives are not inconsistent with those of the party can be members of the party”. The above allows for the formation and existence of affiliates of the Party. This has been the basis for the formation and continued existence of notable organizations like the War Veterans Association, the War Collaborators Association, and Children of War Veterans Association etcetera. This has lately seen the creation of more groups such as; Young Women for ED, Men BelievED and Councillors for ED to mention but a few. To that effect the reasons why these affiliates strongly mention for ED is because that is where we are as a Party.”
Some sections of the media and regime change agents have been peddling lies of a fictitious rift between President Mnangagwa and his deputy to propagate a factionalism narrative.
This is despite the fact that Vice President Chiwenga has a cordial working relationship with his principal and has since endorsed Cde Mnangagwa as the party’s sole Presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.
— ZBC
