Zanu-PF Youth League disowns ‘peace’ group

THE ruling ZANU-PF Youth League has distanced itself from the Joint Youth Liaison Committee, a grouping of youth wings aimed at creating a platform to exchange views on peace and development ahead of the forthcoming harmonised elections.

Representatives of the three MDC formations, ZAPU, Transform Zimbabwe and National People’s Party yesterday addressed a press conference to announce the formation of the JYLC and claimed ZANU-PF was part of the group although the ruling party’s youth league was conspicuous by its absence.

Secretary-general of the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC-T Youth Assembly Mr Lovemore Chinoputsa said their ZANU-PF counterparts had not attended yesterday’s press briefing to enable consultations with the party’s leadership.

However, ZANU-PF Secretary for Youth Affairs Cde Pupurai Togarepi disputed the claim. “We are not part of it and we have no reason to associate ourselves with people seeking relevance.

“The President, Cde Mnangagwa, has already called for peaceful and credible elections. As the Youth League we are thus guided. We do not need counsel from political outfits that are by nature violent,” said Cde Togarepi.

In the statement, the JYLC said as youths they were committed to be ambassadors of peace.

“Beyond this space, as youth political leaders we commit to be ambassadors of peace shunning and condemning violence in any form - the envisioned Zimbabwe that we all aspire for as youth is devoid of violence, hate speech and polarisation,” reads part of the statement.