ZANU PF Youths Condemn Matemadanda's Utterances, Say He Doesn't Speak For The Party

ZANU PF youths league deputy president, Lewis Matutu, has distanced his party from utterances that were made by the War Veterans early this week. War Veterans Association secretary-general, Victor Matemadanda, said that Parliament should amend the constitution so that Presidential aspirants should be above the age of 52, mature enough to run the country. The current minimum age is 40 years.

In an interview with the Daily News, Matutu said

We believe that the correct position comes from the party (Zanu PF) … and the truth of the matter is that there is nothing like that from the party. Party issues are communicated by SK (Simon Khaya) Moyo.

We respect the war veterans association … but it doesn’t mean that we must agree with all they believe in. Youths constitute the largest percentage of the population and this is also the largest age group of people who vote and you cannot tell them not to participate in the country’s politics.

Constitutional law expert, Alex Magaisa warned that such utterances have the potential to harm President Mnangagwa’s chances of endearing him to the world. He said

How does anyone in his right mind even begin to contemplate this without seeing the damage it causes to their own principal? So now you want to bar an opponent through a constitutional amendment?

Isn’t it for the people to reject a candidate if they don’t like him or her? It does nothing to help the cause of a man who is desperate to be seen as open and tolerant. It’s a silly, immature and hare-brained idea.

Related:

• War Veterans Call For Presidential Age Limit To Be Raised From 40 to 52

More: Daily News