Godwin Gomwe, Godfrey Tsenengamu and Vengai Musengi are among the nine youth leaders who were recently dislodged from the party for allegedly undermining the First Family.
Mliswa, on his part, was expelled from Zanu PF last year along with several party bigwigs led by former Vice President Joice Mujuru for allegedly abetting an elaborate plot to remove President Robert Mugabe.
Mliswa confirmed the embattled Zanu PF youths have joined the so-christened Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (Yard) in which he is both founder and national coordinator.
“Kindly take note of the below new membership appointments, provincial committee member for recruitment and mobilisation (Harare) Godwin Gomwe, provincial committee member recruitment and mobilisation (Mashonaland Central) Godfrey Tsenengamu, provincial committee member for recruitment and mobilisation (Mashonaland West) Vengai Musengi,†Mliswa said in a group chat to members of his Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (Yard).
Until their recent expulsion, the youths were close allies to Vice President Mnangagwa who has raised the ire of President Mugabe and his wife for showing presidential ambitions.
When he was expelled from Zanu PF, Mliswa disassociated from the rest of the party rejects, later forming Yard.
Mliswa says the radical advocacy group is open to youths from all political parties in the country and is a platform to push for leadership and economic opportunities for the country’s youths.
Gomwe was first removed as Zanu PF youth chair for Harare after he was accused of being part of a group of youths who were duping housing cooperatives of thousands of dollars using Grace Mugabe’s name.
During a rally she held in Harare last year, the First Lady summoned to the podium, Gomwe and the now late Amos Midzi, then Harare provincial chair, for a “truce”.
This was after Midzi, who was a Mujuru ally, was accused by Gomwe of victimising him for siding with the Mnangagwa group, then the Zanu PF faction which enjoyed President Mugabe’s approval.
Gomwe and his group were summarily dismissed from Zanu PF last month after they had voiced displeasure over Grace’s growing influence in Zanu PF, which saw her victimising senior party politicians.
The youths have since apologised for their role in hounding Mujuru out of Zanu PF.
Meanwhile, the Zanu PF youths are planning on a Jabulani Sibanda style “million youth march†in support of a besieged President Mugabe.
This was said by party deputy secretary for youth, Kudzanayi Chipanga, while addressing party youths at a Zanu PF meeting in Mashonaland East on Thursday.
The last time such a march was organised was 2007 in which thousands marched in the Harare CBD to show support for the veteran leader.
Its convener, Sibanda, is former war veterans’ chairman who was also dislodged from Zanu PF for ‘insulting’ the First Family.
Post published in: Featured