HARARE – Former Zanu PF youth political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu risks expulsion from the party after thumbing his nose at a directive to attend ideological training.
Tsenengamu was demoted from his position last month alongside youth secretary Pupurai Togarepi and his deputy Lewis Matutu after they called a news conference and named three Zanu PF donors on a corrupt list while also accusing them of running cartels.
As part of a compromise deal during a stormy Zanu PF politburo meeting last month, the trio would be allowed to keep their membership but on condition they attended a course at the Herbert Chitepo Ideological College, established as a political school by Zanu PF.
Writing on Facebook Monday, Tsenengamu said he had been instructed to attend a five-day “basic course” at the college starting on the same day and running until Friday “before the three-month course in April.”
“My response – HANDIDI (I don’t want),” Tsenengamu wrote.
It was not clear if Matutu and Togarepi would attend, but Tsenengamu’s open defiance of the party will test the party’s resolve for tackling what party leader Emmerson Mnangagwa described as “misguided and misdirected activism which threatens the party’s unity, cohesion and singleness of purpose.”
The trio were hung out to dry after accusing Green Fuel boss Billy Rautenbach, Sakunda chief Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe chairman Tafadzwa Musarara of engaging in corrupt activities and running cartels.
Fabulously wealthy, Tagwirei, Rautenbach and Musarara have recently made millions of dollars through being granted monopolies or accessing scarce United States dollars from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe under opaque schemes.
The three businessman have, in return, funded Zanu PF activities.
Attempts to expel Matutu, Togarepi and Tsenengamu were fiercely resisted in the Zanu PF politburo, and any moves against the trio by the party will likely open new fissures.
