By Political Reporter

Infighting and factionalism is threatening to tear apart ZAPU as senior members are fighting with junior members as they head towards the elective congress scheduled for 15 August this year.

A source within ZAPU structures confided with this publication that the elective congress is likely to be chaotic, as over a dozen people are vying for the presidency of that party.

“All is not well in the party. It seems we are failing to agree on who should be the next president as more than ten people has shown willingness for the presidency. People like Mark Mbayiwa, Future Msebele, Dr Strike Mkandla, Bernard Magugu, Ralph Mguni, Mjobisa Noko and Edwin Moyo have all expressed their desire to contest for the presidency.

“Others are Washington Jamela, Patrick Gabavu, Noe Dabengwa, Iphithule Maphosa, Ndodana Moyo, Mthabisi Mlingo and Matthew Sibanda. It seems no one wants to be the vice president and this has caused serious divisions in the party. If the differences are not resolved soon and amicably, then the elective congress will be a chaotic one or the party will split before the congress,” said the source.

The same source added that the infighting and mudslinging in ZAPU has prompted that party’s interim president Isaac Mabuka to withdraw from the race.

“The infighting in the party has caused the interim president Mabuka to withdraw from the race. Mabuka is a man who loves smart politics and he didn’t take it lightly when people like Magugu and Maphosa started to spread lies saying that Mabuka was bedding people’s wives. Mabuka saw it fit not to contest for the presidency in order to preserve his dignity,” added the source.

The source further said that factions feuding for the presidency are not resting on their laurels and accused Magugu and Maphosa of being over ambitious and paying people money so that they can speak evil of other contestants.

The source said the factionalism in ZAPU has caused the recalling of Bulawayo Provincial Executive led by Roger Muhlwa on flimsy charges of failing to mobilise for the party.

However, according to the source, the truth is that Muhlwa’s executive was recalled last year because they were sympathetic to the interim President Mabuka, whom they wanted to permanently take over the presidency, replacing the late Dumiso Dabengwa.

ZAPU is set to hold an elective congress to replace its departed liberation war stalwart Dumiso Dabengwa who passed on in May 2019.