Zanu PF youths have angrily reacted to the MDC Alliance Spokesperson Fadzai Mahere’s call for party members to go out in numbers and join the July 31 nationwide protests against corruption and the general mismanagement of the country by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF government.

Led by youth league Secretary General Tendai Chirau, the party youth said they would defend Mnangagwa and any attempts to remove him from power would be resisted.

“We reiterate our support for President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and it is in this light that if there are any issues we have as a nation, we have to do it through patriotic means. There are better ways to address the issues rather than using demonstrations, especially in this time of COVID-19. It becomes a cause for concern,” he said.

Government has insisted the July 31 demonstrations are being fuelled by the West.

“The mortal fear of Africa by the West is the economic success of a self-sustainable African nation. Zimbabwe now offers that prospect after braving devastating sanctions by the West for two decades. No wonder the pandemonium being engendered by the fear of a good example,” Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said in a statement on Saturday.

She said Mnangagwa was aware of the “evil and devilish” agenda by the West.

“President Mnangagwa and his government are fully apprised on this evil agenda and devilish machinations. We will keep the course of re-engagement while safeguarding the nation from a slide to chaos,” Mutsvangwa said.