…’we fear being attacked by angry citizens for empty promises’
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – Few weeks after
President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed a politburo meeting and ordered Zanu PF
bigwigs stationed at Shake-Shake building to always put on party regalia,
national vice youth chairperson Lewis Matutu was on Tuesday left stone-faced
after disgruntled youths told him they too were not proud to wear the regalia.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed a politburo meeting and ordered Zanu PF
bigwigs stationed at Shake-Shake building to always put on party regalia,
national vice youth chairperson Lewis Matutu was on Tuesday left stone-faced
after disgruntled youths told him they too were not proud to wear the regalia.
Matutu, who was accompanied by
Masvingo provincial youth chairperson Brian Munyoro, was on his way to
Chikombedzi to launch a goat project when he first addressed a meeting at the
party’s district offices in Tshovani.
Masvingo provincial youth chairperson Brian Munyoro, was on his way to
Chikombedzi to launch a goat project when he first addressed a meeting at the
party’s district offices in Tshovani.
Many youths attended the meeting in
their ordinary clothes, and when Matutu raised a point of order, he was
heckled.
their ordinary clothes, and when Matutu raised a point of order, he was
heckled.
Some said they were avoiding the
party regalia because there was nothing to show for it in a difficult economy,
while others said wearing the regalia would expose them to the risk of being
attacked by angry citizens who blame the ruling party for the economic
difficulties.
party regalia because there was nothing to show for it in a difficult economy,
while others said wearing the regalia would expose them to the risk of being
attacked by angry citizens who blame the ruling party for the economic
difficulties.
“We cannot be seen walking around
in party regalia. We have seen many videos of comrades being stripped of the
regalia. People are angry!” shouted one youth from the floor.
in party regalia. We have seen many videos of comrades being stripped of the
regalia. People are angry!” shouted one youth from the floor.
Matutu, however, urged Zanu PF supporters
to fight back if they were provoked and forced to remove their regalia.
to fight back if they were provoked and forced to remove their regalia.
“You should learn to defend yourself
from those barbaric MDC supporters who are going around undressing people of
their regalia. It’s as good as taking somebody else’s wife. That’s being
belittled, you should be proud of your regalia because we won this election,”
said Matutu.
from those barbaric MDC supporters who are going around undressing people of
their regalia. It’s as good as taking somebody else’s wife. That’s being
belittled, you should be proud of your regalia because we won this election,”
said Matutu.
The unconvinced youths, however,
stood their ground, arguing there was nothing to be proud of in the regalia,
with one Lloyd Simango saying nobody should be forced to put on the regalia
when the party always made empty promises.
stood their ground, arguing there was nothing to be proud of in the regalia,
with one Lloyd Simango saying nobody should be forced to put on the regalia
when the party always made empty promises.
“Has the system changed yet or it’s
still that old system of the Mugabe times? Because as youths, we have realised
that we have held many elections where you made a lot of manifestos, some
prioritising the youths but you are not delivering.
still that old system of the Mugabe times? Because as youths, we have realised
that we have held many elections where you made a lot of manifestos, some
prioritising the youths but you are not delivering.
“You should learn to implement
every piece of project you would have promised. You gave an example that it’s
being belittled for another man to take your wife but that can happen because
you could be failing to take good care of her.
every piece of project you would have promised. You gave an example that it’s
being belittled for another man to take your wife but that can happen because
you could be failing to take good care of her.
“Some of us, maybe you can see
tisina regalia, it’s because we are not even proud to wear it as there is
nothing to defend it with so it will be wise to remove it off my body (sic) than
to end up being injured. You are the only big guys who are benefiting the
fruits of the revolution while the grassroots are suffering,” said Simango to
loud applause from the gathering.
tisina regalia, it’s because we are not even proud to wear it as there is
nothing to defend it with so it will be wise to remove it off my body (sic) than
to end up being injured. You are the only big guys who are benefiting the
fruits of the revolution while the grassroots are suffering,” said Simango to
loud applause from the gathering.
Sensing the hostility, Matutu tried
to silence the youths and quickly changed the topic of the day.
to silence the youths and quickly changed the topic of the day.
Many social media videos
purportedly showing mobs forcing people to remove Zanu PF-branded T/shirts have
circulated on social media. There were also reports that bigwigs were removing
stickers from branded party vehicles for fear of stirring public anger in fuel
queues.
purportedly showing mobs forcing people to remove Zanu PF-branded T/shirts have
circulated on social media. There were also reports that bigwigs were removing
stickers from branded party vehicles for fear of stirring public anger in fuel
queues.
