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Cde Sikhosana

Tichaona Zindoga Senior Political Writer
ZANU-PF youths countrywide have praised President Mugabe for decisively moving to stop members of the party’s main wing from interfering in their affairs and lifting suspensions that had been imposed on some provincial youth leaders.
Meddling by senior members of the party has been blamed for the chaos that characterised the Youth League conference and the near mess at the Women’s League conference where several Politburo and Central Committee members as well as six of the party’s 10 provincial chairmen were implicated in vote-buying and manipulation.

On Wednesday, the Zanu-PF Politburo met in Harare for a no holds barred meeting to review the conferences and their aftermaths and resolved to stem the interference and victimisation of some youth leaders.

The President re-emphasised the position while officiating at a function in Kariba on Thursday.

Zanu-PF youth leaders were yesterday ecstatic at the turn of  events.

“The leadership dealt with the matter and everything is now very normal,” Cde Absolom Sikhosana, the Zanu-PF Secretary for Youth, said.

“The President was loud and clear and we know that everyone who is Zanu-PF is going to act on his advice,” added Cde Sikhosana.

Provincial youth chairmen were a relieved lot and said that they could now do their programmes freely.

“We would like to thank our leader for living true to the words that he said at the airport as he was returning from China that he is not there just for the main wing, but also attends to issues affecting the youth,” said Harare Youth League chairman Cde Godwin Gomwe.

Cde Gomwe stands to benefit from the lifting of suspensions by the party after Harare had pressed for his suspension.

“President Mugabe hears from many sides but he knows the truth. We are grateful that the words came from President Mugabe himself because they would not have been appreciated had they come from a lesser leader.

“As youths we remain resolute in support of President Mugabe and Amai Mugabe,” said Cde Gomwe.

Another youth leader whose job was on the line, Mashonaland West’s Cde Vengai Musengi, said President Mugabe had the last word on party issues.

“Now we can work freely because interference by members of the Main Wing prevented us from doing so,” he said.

In Mashonaland Central, youth leader Cde Godfrey Samambwa said the decision conformed to President Mugabe’s dynamic leadership.

He said: “As youths we have always appreciated what the President has done for the country and this time for the youths in particular.

“We want to thank him for coming out clearly on how the party should be administerd and explain the relationship between the main body and the Youth League.”

Cde Tamuka Moyo, Matabeland North youth league chairman said, in line with President Mugabe’s prescription, the Main Wing should help youths grow and come in as advisors not interfering in everything.

“Given freedom, we see the growth and development of the Youth League and we are happy that we have the support of the First Secretary of the party,” said Cde Moyo.

Midlands Province youth leader Cde Edson Samambwa said the province was fully behind the President, noting that the main problem had been party bigwigs  using money to influence youth processes.

“Now that the President has spoken, it is to be hoped that the seniors will listen. Interference has been a sign of defiance in itself,” said Cde Samambwa.

Cde Lucky Kandemiri, from Mashonaland East feels happy that there has not been interference and disharmony in his area as reported in other provinces but noted that President Mugabe spoke to the separation of powers among the three main wings of the party.

“We can work separately but being one at the same time,” he said.