Zimbabwe: Battle lines drawn for Zanu PF Harare youth chairmanship
By Own Correspondent – Notable youthful figures in Zanu PF are angling for the position of the Harare youth chairmanship after the dissolving of the ruling party structures.
The post was once held by controversial Godwin Gomwe who is eyeing to take over the reins of the whole province as chairman.
According to a Zanu PF insiders ,the battle is now hot after the reports that the elections for the provincial leadership will be half next month.
Among those vying to be at the helm of the Harare youth league is Nyasha Zenda who was a losing Harare Central Councillor in last year’s elections and had his campaign bus burnt in the August 1 post election violence. He was one of the key witness in the August 1 Commission of Inquiry hearings and there are rumours that he might be using the testimonies to position himself for the influential position
“Nyasha is one of the young hawks in the party who is angling to take over the reins of the youth chairmanship after giving testimonies that nailed MDC Alliance supporters for the violence that broke out last year, he thinks he is going to ride on that but his dalliance with exiled Patrick Zhuwawo ‘s son Jason taints him as a G40 proponent,” said one Zanu PF youth who requested anonymity.
Another prospective candidate is Miriam Chikukwa’s son Samuel who is the immediate past vice chairperson of the Harare Zanu PF youth league whose chances according to the insiders are slim because again his mother was a perceived G40 member.
Kudakwashe Damson who was the political commissar of the youth wing in the province and is an ally of Godwin Gomwe is touted as a big contender for the post but is accused of trying to have an overt influence in party structures.
“Damson is no pushover for the post as he is very good at mobilising but his biggest undoing has been the tendency to tamper with party structures for his own benefit,” said one mole from the party .
However, the biggest hopeful is Tinashe Maduza who at is credited for leading a successful campaign for President Emmerson Mnangagwa for the Chirumanzu / Zibagwe Constituency and was a member of parliament for Kambuzuma from 2015 until last year’ s election.
“Quite not an imposing figure is Maduza but his workaholics is going to be his biggest asset to clinch this one, ”argued a Zanu PF supporter who only identified himself as Bramwell.
There are also a number of other aspirants vying for the position.
