By Nyasha Chuma
OBEY Sithole’s position as the opposition MDC Alliance Youth Assembly chairperson is hanging by a thread amid a renewed push from within to oust him for failing to infuse a robust approach to dealing with Zanu PF.
The opposition’s youth assembly prides itself in being a key driver for change but has been conspicuous in tackling the ruling party’s shortcomings.
Sithole is currently in Norway on what the party says is for a medical check-up.
Party youth from the Nelson Chamisa led formation say his absence coupled with his lacklustre style of dealing with the ruling party are among the reasons the former student leader must be replaced.
“Sithole has been handling Zanu PF with kid gloves and now we have a commander who is leading remotely. Our commander should be on the ground,” said an opposition youth official who requested not to be named fearing reprisal.
The official revealed that a sector within the opposition’s youth assembly is plotting for an extraordinary council to replace Sithole with incarcerated Makomborero Haruziviishe or Pride Mkono.
Reached for comment, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Chuma denied that there is a plot to oust Sithole.
“The truth is that, yes, our chairperson Cde Obey Sithole is currently out of the country on a sick leave where he is seeking medication in Norway that is from his word. Then on the issue that you asked about Mako taking over or Pride Mkono there is nothing whatsoever like that happening in the Youth Assembly,” Chuma said.
“Mako is still incarcerated I am sure you know about that and he is our Secretary for Labour and Welfare and we are happy that he is in that position as for Cde Pride Mkono, he is our Cde, a partner from the civic society organization, he currently does not hold any position in the Youth Assembly hence we do not know where this is coming from and I can also confirm that there is no plotting whatsoever in regards of an extraordinary congress but the truth is that the Assembly according to the constitution it has to meet for at least two national councils per year and we have not had such a meeting this year mainly due to complications regarding COVID-19 regulations,” said Chuma
Chama added that the COVID-19 regulations have been relaxed and an national council is now on cards.
“Now that the rules have been flexed to accommodate at least 100 people in gatherings we are planning to have that meeting, the national council not an extraordinary council, it is just a normal council as per the requirements of the constitution, there is no confusion, there is no crisis, there is no divisions, there is no plotting for extraordinary congress, there is not any plans at the moment to replace the current chairperson” Chuma added
