Farirai Madhumbe | Former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s favourite Zanu PF youth leader Kudzanayi Chipanga has been replaced by Pupurai Togarepi.

Chipanga became the face of the highly charged Presidential Interface rallies at which Grace would spit venom against her perceived enemies in Zanu PF. Chipanga was subsequently arrested and humiliated after the coup and is facing charges of publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in Section 31 (a) (iii) of the Criminal (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9.23 or alternatively causing disaffection among the police force or defence forces as defined in section 30 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The state media reports that Zanu-PF National Youth League Executive yesterday elected new office-bearers to fill 10 posts that fell vacant following expulsion of G40 cabal members.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa re-instated former leader Pupurai Togarepi at the Zanu-PF’s Extraordinary Congress in Harare last Friday and tasked him to fill vacant posts.
Elections were conducted via secret ballot at Zanu-PF headquarters, with Lewis Matutu becoming Togarepi’s deputy, taking over from Mr Mpehlabayo Malinga.

Other new secretaries are s Tendai Chirau (administration), Getrude Mutandi (finance), Godfrey Tsenengamu (commissariat), Silas Chimbiro (security), Sibongile Sibanda (external relations), Elizabeth Masuku (transport), Yeukai Simbanegavi (information and publicity), Leslie Ncube (legal affairs) and Tonderai Bosha (indigenisation).
The election results await Politburo ratification.
In an interview with our Harare Bureau, Togarepi said: “The main message is unity and forgiveness. We expect the youth to work together in harmony and no more purging of members. No more insults. We must respect our elders; war veterans, the army and the entire party leadership must be respected.
“Youths must mobilise for the ruling party. They are the future of Zimbabwe and their mobilisation should be exemplary. They should help in voter registration and everyone in the Youth League has a duty to explain where we are and where we are going.
“In addition, the youth should be peaceful; there’s no need for violence during election time. Zanu-PF has the support of the people, and I want to encourage young people to stand for election as councillors, Members of Parliament.”