The Sunday Mail
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Sunday Mail Correspondent
THE newly elected ZANU PF Youth League executive’s top priority is to focus on initiatives and strategies aimed at mobilising youth to vote for the ruling party and ensure resounding victory for President Mnangagwa in next year’s general elections.
This was said by the ruling party’s newly elected Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs, Cde John Paradza.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, he said as the vanguard of the party, the Youth League has a mandate to meet set targets, particularly mobilising five million votes for the ruling party next year.
“Being elected as the Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs is an honour, as the youth of the ruling party have shown confidence in me by entrusting me to lead them as we carry out our constitutional mandate guided by our party President and First Secretary, His Excellency, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa,” he said.
“ZANU PF has given itself a target of five million votes and l strongly believe that we can achieve the mark. The Youth League will leave no one and no place behind as we mobilise towards five million votes plus victory for the party.”
Cde Paradza said it is critical that they embrace strategies and programmes that ensure ZANU PF remains relevant to the people and the youth in particular.
President Mnangagwa has instituted policies, programmes and measures that resonate with the people, with the sole purpose of improving the country’s economy and people’s livelihoods, he added.
“Zanu PF is and must remain as the party of choice for all young people of Zimbabwe. It brought us political Independence in 1980 and today, through the wise and visionary leadership of His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa, the focus is on improving livelihoods of our people as espoused in Vision 2030, the NDS1 and the devolution matrix.”
The Youth League, he added, has a role to defend the ruling party’s interests and the country’s sovereignty.
“It is also imperative that we do everything in our power to defend the hard-won Independence we enjoy today, for it is only if we remain in total control of our destiny that we can realise our goals and aspirations.
“As such, the defence of our sovereignty and territorial integrity is non-negotiable, and, as the Youth League, we shall defend the party and the country Zimbabwe to the last drop of our blood if need be.”
Other elected members of the ZANU PF Youth League executive include Cde Tendai Chiwetu (Secretary for Administration), Cde Garikai Zonde (Secretary for Finance) and Cde Tsungai Makumbe, who is the political commissar, deputised by Cde Taurai Kandishaya.
Cde Tubelihle Ncube is the Secretary for Security, while Cde Valeria Makonza is the Secretary for External Affairs.
Other secretaries in the Youth League executive are Cde Innocent Dube (Transport and Social Welfare), Cde Phillippa Mukono (Information and Publicity), Cde Margaret Nyerere (Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment), Cde Munashe Mututsa (Information, Communication and Technology), Cde Admire Ndlovu (Economic Affairs), Cde Luckmore Gapa (Health and Child Care), Cde Nalede Maunganidze (Gender), Cde Nomatter Topotsa (Lands), Cde Future Mhlanga (Disability Issues), Cde Batsirai Matiza (Environment).
Cde Danmore Mambondiani is the Deputy Secretary for Administration, while Cde Munashe Mabika is Secretary for Business Liaison.
