Xolisani Ncube
A move by the Zanu-PF youth league to name and shame several alleged corrupt businessmen as the main cause of Zimbabwe’s economic woes came at a cost as the top three bosses were on Wednesday shown the exit door from the influential wing.
Pupurai Togarepi, the youth league boss, his deputyLewis Matutu and national political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu were suspended from the party after they led a name and shame of corrupt bigwigs, most of whom are linked to the country’s top leadership.
On Monday, Matutu and Tsenengamu accused select businesspeople, most of whom are linked to Zanu-PF, as being corrupt and causing the economic crisis facing Zimbabwe.
As expected, the youth league leaders were shown the exit door on allegations of indiscipline and causing division in the party after a reportedly highly charged Politburo meeting at the headquarters in Harare.
The fall of the trio benefited Tendai Chirau, who was the youth league secretary for administration and now takes over as the deputy secretary for youth affairs.
Chirau, ultimately becomes a politburo member.
Addressing a press briefing, Patrick Chinamasa, the acting secretary for administration, said the trio had shown a high level of indiscipline.
“Cde Togarepi, who was serving as party secretary for youth affairs at the pleasure of His Excellency, the president and first secretary Cde ED Mnangagwa, with immediate effect ceases to be a secretary of the youth league, as such he is no longer a member of the youth league, he has been relieved of that position,”Chinamasa said.
“Cde Matutu and Cde Godfrey Tsenengamu have been immediately removed from their positions as the deputy secretary for youth league and political commissar, respectively, [and] they will be ordinary card carrying members.”
Chinamasa said the duo will have to undergo a compulsory party ideological training exercise at the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.
Togarepi was fired for supporting the two in their fight against corruption and had lashed at state media for failing to report on the issues the duo had raised on Monday.
