The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube and Dumisani Sibanda in Filabusi
THE one million march in solidary with the ruling Zanu-PF party’s First Secretary and President Mugabe being organised by the party’s Youth League will be held on 25 May to coincide with the Africa Day celebrations, an official has said.
The announcement was made yesterday at the party’s Youth League rally held in Filabusi, Matabeleland South by the party’s Deputy Secretary for Youth Cde Kudzanai Chipanga.
“On 25 May come in your numbers to Harare for the one million man march in support of President Mugabe,” he said amid thunderous applause from the audience.
“As youths we don’t want bridges to our President because if there are bridges it takes longer to get to him and by the time the information gets to the President it might be distorted. We want one way that is why as youths we want to meet the President regularly.”
He said the party will organise food and transport for those wishing to attend the march and each province is expected to provide 100 000 people.
He said youths were also one with all Zanu-PF organs hence the march was not to be viewed as a Youth League event. Cde Chipanga said there was a need for youths to remain respectful of other party organs as this was key to the party’s development.
Earlier during a briefing of party provincial members before the rally Cde Chipanga cleared the air on the status of former Zanu-PF Matabeleland South youth chairperson Mr Washington Nkomo.
“Washington Nkomo is unlike our MP here Cde Andrew Langa — who I am told has worked hard to make this rally a reality — who was suspended from holding a party position for two years and the suspension is about to expire which is why he is warming up. Washington was expelled from the party, he was not suspended. If you wine and dine with him discussing party affairs it’s like you are discussing with an opposition member like Simba Makoni or Job Sikhala,” said Cde Chipanga.
Later addressing the rally Cde Chipanga said gone were the days where youths were used during election campaigns but left out in such programmes as inputs distribution. He said youths in areas like Insiza must be given all gold claims some of which were held by people who are based outside the country.
Cde Chipanga who comes from Manicaland said people benefited immensely from diamond mining before the Government moved in and gave licences to big companies.
“Diamond mining permits were given to big companies and they stole $15 billion so it is better to give them to our own youths. Gold panners in Insiza should not be harassed by security officers but given permits to mine in the area. Makorokoza are not illegal panners but they are young entrepreneurs,” he said.
The rally was also attended by Women’s Affairs Deputy Minister Cde Abigail Damasane, senior Zanu-PF official Cde Patrick Hove, Insiza North MP Cde Andrew Langa and his wife Clara, Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial chairperson Cde Rapelang Choene, acting provincial youth chairperson Cde Fulufhelo Muleya, among other party officials.
