Tinoda Machakaire thought he was flexing his muscle when he unilaterally reshuffled the ZANU PF Youth League national executive council. Instead, he may have dug his own political grave. On December 9, he shocked many within the party by announcing sweeping changes without consulting anyone in the top leadership. He claimed the reshuffle was meant to align the Youth League with the ruling party’s Vision 2030, but his actions have only sparked outrage and division.
John Paradza, his deputy in the Youth League, wasted no time challenging the reshuffle. Paradza openly rejected the changes and told all affected members to remain in their original positions until further notice. His bold move was soon backed by Obert Mpofu, the ZANU PF Secretary for Administration, who stated clearly that Machakaire’s reshuffle was in violation of party rules. According to Mpofu, only the President or the party’s First Secretary has the authority to make such changes.
The reshuffle included several key movements. Tsungai Makumbe was moved from the commissariat to secretary for finance. Garikai Zonde was removed from finance and made secretary for science and technology. Phineas Makombe became the new commissar while Phillipa Mukoko was handed the external affairs docket. Munashe Mtutsa was made secretary for information and publicity. These changes, which Machakaire described as strategic, were seen by many as reckless and politically motivated.
When Paradza stood up against the reshuffle, Machakaire tried to silence him. He wrote to Paradza demanding that he withdraw his message to the Youth League members. He warned of consequences if Paradza did not comply. But the damage had already been done. Paradza refused to back down and even gained more support across the party structures, especially in his strongholds of Masvingo and Midlands where Machakaire’s influence is weak.
As more Youth League members skip Machakaire’s meetings and ignore his directives, rumors of a plot to remove him from office are growing louder. He has failed to mobilize crowds at events and his authority appears to be slipping with every passing day. His reshuffle, which was meant to tighten his grip on the Youth League, has only exposed his political weakness.
Mpofu added fuel to the fire by writing a formal letter explaining the illegality of the reshuffle. While he also criticized Paradza for reversing the reshuffle without authority, his main message was that Machakaire’s move was out of line. He emphasized that the matter would now be referred to senior party leadership for resolution. The implication was clear. Machakaire had overstepped, and the party was now taking the matter seriously.
This entire episode shows the growing cracks within ZANU PF. The Youth League, often used as a tool for political mobilization and intimidation, is now at war with itself. Machakaire is being described as “hoist by his own petard” a phrase meaning to be destroyed by one’s own actions. His downfall, if it happens, will be one he engineered with his arrogance and disregard for party protocol.
It remains to be seen what ZANU PF will decide. Will they punish Paradza for defying orders or will they remove Machakaire for acting outside the constitution of the party. Either way, the leadership of the Youth League is in chaos. Machakaire’s political future hangs by a thread. The so called golden boy of the Youth League has become a symbol of disunity and disorder. His rise was fast but his fall may be even faster.
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