Zanu-PF youths boo minister

Published: 12 hours ago

Tensions erupted at the Zanu-PF provincial inter-district conference held at Chinhoyi University of Technology on Sunday, as party youth members vocally expressed their frustration over unfulfilled promises, booing and heckling politburo member and Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.

The unrest came as the youth demanded the implementation of commitments related to land distribution and cattle under the Presidential Heifer Scheme. Ziyambi faced a chorus of disapproval, being booed three times during his address. Attempts by fellow politburo member and Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora to calm the crowd were unsuccessful.

One unidentified youth voiced the collective sentiment, saying, "We are tired of promises without implementation. Some of us were given offer letters for land that does not exist." Another participant from Hurungwe echoed the frustrations, stating, "Give us land as promised. You just want to use us. Now you are talking about 2030 without honouring the 2028 promises."

Zanu-PF provincial chairperson Mary Mliswa-Chikoka tried to regain control, but was met with continued shouts from the youth demanding the land they were promised. The chaos only subsided after Happison Muchechetere, chairperson of the Mashonaland West War Veterans League, urged the youth to calm down.

Attempts to reach Mliswa-Chikoka for comment were unsuccessful, and provincial secretary for information and vice-chairperson Misheck Nyarubero declined to comment on the "hot" issue.

Despite the disruption, the conference continued, though with limited time to deliberate on key resolutions. The only resolution publicly announced was a call to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term from 2028 to 2030, a decision previously made at the Bulawayo conference last year.

The resolution stated: "As Mashonaland West province has unanimously resolved, we call for the immediate implementation of our resolution to endorse and affirm His Excellency Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa as the first secretary for Zanu-PF and President of Zimbabwe to continue serving in both capacities until 2030."

Other resolutions emphasized the need for a framework to ensure party supremacy over government structures, aimed at guaranteeing that Zanu-PF's policies and decisions are effectively implemented.
- NewsDay

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