The suspension of the ZANU PF Youth League national leadership is expected to be a catalyst for more purges in the party.
On Wednesday the youth national executive passed the decision to suspend the top five leaders. Besides Zanu PF secretary for youth affairs Pupurai Togarepi, his deputy Lewis Matutu, the other members to be suspended are Tendai Chirau, who is the secretary for administration, Admire Mahachi and Mercy Mugomo.
Togarepi told Newsday on Thursday that he had not been served with a suspension letter and was, therefore, performing his duties. He said:
Personally, I haven’t seen the letter. I am one of the people mentioned and I didn’t get a copy, for me to comment it will be premature. I am doing my job.
Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu had this to say:
I cannot discuss issues involving internal processes until the matter was processed in a normal way. As it is, it will be difficult for me to comment.
ZANU PF has experienced factionalism in recent years. In the latest episode, the youth league is allegedly divided between those who support President Emmerson Mnangagwa and those backing his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.