Recent remarks by senior ZANU-PF Youth League leaders have exposed growing unease within the ruling party over the increasing influence of wealthy businessmen and politically connected figures, who are perceived to be leveraging money and proximity to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to gain political influence and legitimacy.

The latest salvo came from Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training John Paradza, who warned that newcomers to the party must respect established structures rather than attempt to impose themselves through wealth or patronage.

"If you join ZANU-PF you ask those that are already in how to walk and operate and if you want to give back to ZANU-PF, let it be clear. There is a circular that came from the Party Secretary that entails how gifts are to be handled. If you have decided to give each other cars do so alone and not include the Party. ZANU-PF has structure on how things work, we don't want people who want to ruin our party structures," Paradza said.

Paradza's comments were directed at Presidential Investment Adviser Paul Tungwarara following the gifting of vehicles and cash to selected individuals associated with the ruling party.

The remarks also appear consistent with Paradza's earlier criticism of Wicknell Chivayo's proposal to donate millions of dollars to Members of Parliament. At the time, Paradza argued that party and government institutions should not be reduced to platforms for personal patronage, a position that now appears to have evolved into a challenge against what some within the party view as the growing political influence of wealthy benefactors.

Youth Minister Tino Machakaire reinforced the message, delivering one a warning against individuals perceived to be exploiting their closeness to the President.

"We don't want to see crooks destroying our Party. Taking a picture with the President and think you are now above the president," Machakaire said.

He further invoked President Mnangagwa's long-standing warning against personalising the ruling party.

Machakaire added that the party belongs to its members and not individuals, arguing that leadership should be exercised through service rather than personal ambition.

Taken together, the statements suggest growing frustration within sections of the Youth League over what they perceive as the emergence of parallel centres of influence built around money, gifts and access to the President.

For party traditionalists like Paradza, the issue is less about the individuals involved and more about protecting ZANU-PF's hierarchical structures from being overshadowed by wealthy figures whose political weight increasingly derives from patronage rather than elected or party positions.

The remarks triggered a response from Rutendo Matinyarare, of the a recipient of a vehicle and cash from Tungwarara.

Addressing Paradza directly, Matinyarare insisted that President Mnangagwa remained the sole centre of authority within both government and the ruling party.

"....in Zimbabwe we have one center of power, and that center of power is President Dr. ED Mnangagwa, the First Secretary of ZANU PF. I apologized to the President, the First Lady, and the First Family, and HE accepted my apology and approved for me to receive what I received."

Matinyarare claimed the vehicle and money he received were compensation for work he had undertaken in support of the country and the President.

"Be reminded that the car and the money were payment for work I did for the President and the nation when I removed sanctions on Zimbabwe. You and the person who sent you are both beneficiaries of the work I did."

In an apparent challenge to Paradza, Matinyarare added that any attempt to reverse the arrangement would amount to questioning the President's authority.

"So if you believe that you or the person who sent you are now GREATER than the President, I invite you to come and get the car. If anything happens to the car, you will answer accordingly to HE who authorized me to receive it. Here you are challenging mukuru, not me."

The exchanges have highlighted a growing fault line within sections of the ruling party over how political influence should be exercised and whether financial empowerment initiatives linked to wealthy individuals are strengthening or undermining party structures.

Political commentator and ZANU-PF member Jones Musara also weighed into the debate, warning against public infighting among party members.

"There is a lot of legitimate criticism that can be PUBLICLY leveled against the Youth League or other Party and Government structures or officials but we do not attack them because we are one."

Musara argued that internal disputes were damaging the party's reputation and distracting attention from governance and development priorities.

"The is no need for infighting amongst our keen. Therefore lets focus on amplifying EDWORKS, EMPOWERMENT AND SERVICE DELIVERY."