Zanu-PF warns youths fleecing businesspeople
ZANU-PF Bulawayo district has warned bogus youths who fleece businesspeople in the name of the party that their days are numbered.
Without mincing his words, newly elected Zanu-PF city centre district chairperson Cde Antipas Banda said such unruly behaviour is intolerable and perpetrators soiling the name of the party will be dealt with accordingly.
Addressing a press conference, Cde Banda said for a very long time some unruly elements in the party have been fleecing local businesspeople through letters seeking donations. “There are people masquerading as members of the party going around soliciting for donations, funds in the name of Zanu-PF. So, as City Centre District we are saying that has to come to an end because they were taking advantage as there was no substantive chairman in the district,” said Cde Banda.
His sentiments follow the arrest of former Bulawayo youth chairperson Khumbulani Mpofu for allegedly forging a letter and soliciting funds in the name of the party last month. “The City Centre District is a unique district that accommodates a lot of businesspeople, whites, blacks, Indians, Nigerians, Chinese, you name them and these people are being given letters of donations all the time without the knowledge of the party”.
Cde Banda said when the party approaches local businesspeople with genuine programmes, they hear of bogus party representatives who siphon money weekly from them. He said all businesspeople who receive letters with the Zanu-PF letter head must verify at their district offices.
“We are certain that as from today no one will accept any letter bearing the letterhead of the party soliciting donations without verifying from the district leadership before going to the provincial leadership,” said Cde Banda.
He warned perpetrators that such actions are criminal and the law would take its course.
Cde Banda, who was flanked by Cde Esau Munangwa Mangwana, Cde Sarah Tembo, chairlady of the Women’s League and other members of the city centre district, also spoke on vendors who are constantly harassed by municipal police saying council must come up with a better way of dealing with them.
Cde Banda, who was contesting with Cde Magura Magura Charumbira, won the chairmanship post by 20 votes to 13 on Sunday. He replaces the late Cde Joe Reeds Chiyangwa who was chairman of the district until his death in April this year.