ZANU PF national secretary for youth affairs Tinoda Machakaire’s political clout was yesterday badly shaken after the party’s secretary-general Obert Mpofu admonished him for unilaterally reshuffling the youth league’s national executive.
Sources in the Zanu PF youth league accused Machakaire, who was appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, of using provincial chairpersons to run the department, while sidelining the elected national executive.
His activities, according to the sources, have created factions with elected party cadres aligning themselves withhis deputy John Paradza, who was also elected to his position.
The tension between Machakaire and Paradza, which has been simmering for a long time, played out in the public this week when the former unilaterally reshuffled members of the national executive.
Paradza checkmated Machakaire’s move by urging the national executive to ignore the directive, while seeking guidance from Mpofu.
In a letter addressed to Machakaire, Mpofu reminded the youth league boss of the need to stick to the Zanu PF constitution.
“The restructuring exercise appears to have been implemented without consulting the national assembly of the youth league or the youth executive council or securing ratification from the politburo or central committee, as required by article 26 section 330(2) and (3) of the 2022 party constitution,” part of the letter read.
“The secretary’s supervisory powers under section 88 must be exercised within the confines of constitutional principles, which prioritise democracy and collective leadership.
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“Without explicit authority to remove or restructure elected positions, the directive risks being ultra vires (beyond the powers granted), the restructuring perceived unilateral and undemocratic, may create division within the youth league and erode confidence in leadership decisions.”
Mpofu said Machakaire should have sought recourse through the appropriate procedures instead of a unilateral reshuffle as his actions undermined democratic principles and collective leadership.
“There is a need to adhere to the Zanu PF constitution, consultation and procedural integrity so as to maintain legitimacy, unity and respect for democratic norms,” Mpofu said in the letter.
“Therefore, future decisions of this magnitude should involve thorough consultation with the relevant organs of the youth league and formal ratification by the politburo or central committee.
“In addition, the rationale and procedures followed for restructuring should be clearly documented to enhance transparency and accountability.
“Please be advised that this matter will be referred to party leadership for deliberation and guidance.”
The Zanu PF youth league was this week engulfed in a storm with Machakaire and Paradza at loggerheads over the shake-up announced on Monday.
Machakaire reshuffled the league’s national youth leadership where he removed elected national youth executive council members as the succession-linked internal fights intensified.
The reshuffle resulted in a tug-of-war between Machakaire and Paradza.
NewsDay also heard that the developments were linked to on-going factional fights within the ruling party over a plot to extend Mnangagwa’s term from 2028 to 2030.
Zanu PF adopted the controversial resolution to extend Mnangagwa’s rule at the party’s annual conference in Bulawayo in October.
Mnangagwa has, however, stated categorically that he is not interested in extending his term of office.
Behind the scenes manoeuvres by 2030 agenda supporters, mainly from Masvingo and Midlands provinces, have left the party divided with national and provincial executive members at odds with grassroots structures opposed to Mnangagwa’s term extension.
Paradza is reported to be leading the 2030 drive amid allegations that he sponsored activities to mobilise youths towards the agenda.
Machakaire, who is also the Youth, Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training minister, restructured the league in line with what he termed this year’s national conference resolutions which sought to align teams to the 2030 national agenda.
After Machakaire’s reshuffle, Paradza with the support of provincial chairpersons from the Matabeleland region, dismissed the announcement leading to a tussle between the two leaders.
