HARARE – Late on Sunday night, about 60 MDC Alliance youths entered the party’s Harvest House HQ which was forcibly occupied by the rival MDC-T since June.

A key player in facilitating Sunday’s re-occupation is Paul Gorekore, the MDC-T’s youth leader for Harare province, who also held the same position in 2014 which the Supreme Court recognised as the last legitimate party congress in a controversial judgement delivered in March.

As police massed outside Harvest House on Monday, Gorekore came down to speak to gathered reporters – separated by burglar bars – while surrounded by dozens of youths from both the MDC-T and the MDC Alliance.

The statement was issued on behalf of a united “MDC Youth Assembly” for Harare province, Gorekore said.

Without naming her, he appeared to accuse MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe of having been “infiltrated and captured by Zanu PF elements battling to destroy the people’s movement.”

Here is Gorekore’s statement in full:

“We the young people of the Movement for Democratic Change (Harare province) united together to finish the people’s democratic revolution.

As the first line of defence of the party, the vanguards of democracy and the custodians of the party and its future we have assumed all security duties of the Party HQ MRT House.

This was necessitated by our realisation on the need to unite the people in the fight for a better Zimbabwe and defend the civilian space in the face of military state capture.

We as the youths of the party as per 2014 structures, we have decided to go beyond our differences and unite to resolve the current crisis. We have been concerned by the recent developments where the party had been infiltrated and captured by Zanu PF elements battling to destroy the People’s movement thereby aiding the suffering of the masses.

This act of bravery was necessitated by the need to protect our beloved movement and the Zimbabwean people’s fight for better lives.

As young people we will remain guided by the organs of the party in particular the National Council as we re-establish the will of MDC leaders, members, supporters and Zimbabweans at large.

We have noted the attempt to surrender the Democratic project into the hands of the enemy.

Individuals have been making decisions without the mandate of the Zimbabwean voters, districts, provinces, the party’s National Executive and National Council organs which have not sat since the Supreme Court judgment.

The party has been infiltrated by sell-outs with an agenda to derail our freedom.

It therefore follows that we act to unite our leadership, our support base and Zimbabweans at large and ensure the Vision of Dr Morgan Tsvangirai lives on across generations.

We furthermore urge the Zimbabwe Republic Police to desist from interfering in MDC internal political affairs and immediately vacate our headquarters. We also urge all youths to maintain discipline and peace as we await the party national executive and national council meeting to map the political way forward.

This is not a one generation move movement. We will define, defend and secure our future.

Thank you.”