by Staff Reporter
Infighting has engulfed the opposition ZAPU party ahead of its elective congress to be held at the end of August, this year with some provinces threatening to boycott the event.
A source who spoke to this publication said the ZAPU congress hanged in the air as factionalism and infighting within that party was causing difficulties in the planning of the event.
“There is serious infighting within the party and some provinces are threatening to boycott the congress if their grievances were not addressed. The Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matebeleland South provincial structures have threatened to boycott the congress citing rigging in provincial conferences held in Mashonaland East and Central Provinces. However, those in the Mashonaland Provinces are saying they are tired of being bullied by members in the Matebeleland region and they have also threatened to boycott the congress if the Matebeleland region have their way,” said the source.
The same source added that the rift in that party had been caused by the secretary-general Strike Mkandla who nullified results of Mashonaland East and Central provincial congresses.
“The chaos in the party has been caused by Mkandla who has nullified nomination results in Mashonaland East and Central because they are not supporting him for the party presidency. Mkandla is now facing a revolt from the Mashonaland structures who have vowed to kick him out as the secretary general before the congress. As it stands, there is now a rift between the Mashonaland and the Matebeleland structures,” added the source.
According to the same source, the Mashonaland ZAPU structures have said that they would only attend the congress if the suspended secretary for mobilization and organisation, Derek Katsenga, is reinstated.
Katsenga was suspended by Mkandla for allegedly “sowing division and discord among senior party leaders in northern region thereby weakening collective follow-up of party decisions and channels, in the face of express directives from the office of secretary-general.”
In an interview with this publication, ZAPU’s Mashonaland Central chairperson, Andrea Zimbango confirmed that his province would not attend the congress unless Mkandla is suspended from the party.
He further said that until people like Mkandla stop seeing ZAPU as a Ndebele party, the party will continue to perform dismally on the Zimbabwe’s electoral landscape.
ZAPU is yet to elect a substantive leader following the death of Dumiso Dabengwa in 2019. People like Mkandla, Mark Mbayiwa, Future Msebele, 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.
Acting president Isaac Mabuka has withdrawn from the race.
