Zapu members from 11 out of 13 districts in Bulawayo met over the weekend and passed a vote-of-no-confidence in their provincial leadership, it emerged yesterday.
Report by Nduduzo Tshuma
According to party insiders, the meeting was held on Sunday at Amakhosi Cultural Centre and was attended by Bulawayo provincial chairman Retired Colonel Ray Ncube. Although Ncube declined to comment on the matter yesterday, party insiders said they were now awaiting Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa to endorse the decision.
“The resolution to dissolve the provincial structures and the national executive members has been made,” said a party insider. “What is left is to properly draft the minutes and send them to the presidency, including the president.
“The minutes will be sent to the party leadership before the end of this week.” The dissolution, according to insiders, is targeted at some members who were considered to be deadwood and working against the interests of the party.
They include national executive member representing Bulawayo Advocate Steven Nkiwane, 10 members of the National People’s Council and 10 members of the Council of Elders.
“The meeting was well-attended although some provincial members, mostly those who work with Nkiwane, did not turn up.”
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“Ncube was also there and said he respected the wishes of the province. “The districts agreed to hold fresh elections to usher in new leaders by mid-October,” said a party insider who declined to be named. The long-term plan of the district members is to call for a special congress that would reshuffle the entire Zapu leadership before elections scheduled for March next year.”
“It was agreed that most of those provincial members who did not attend the meeting were formerly from Zanu PF and had never occupied an influential position in their previous party,” another source said.
“The meeting resolved that they did not want to bring Zanu PF systems into Zapu hence those members should be chucked out.”
Of late, Zapu has been experiencing internal strife with some members calling for the removal of Dabengwa and his entire national executive, accusing them of taking the party backwards.
They have also accused Nkiwane of using some provincial members to derail the party.
