THE appearance of the FreeZim Congress Party leader, Joseph Makamba Busha, at a Zapu national executive council meeting has raised eyebrows with members questioning the businessman’s interest in the former liberation movement.
REPORT BY NDUDUZO TSHUMA STAFF REPORTER
The meeting was reportedly held at a Bulawayo hotel three weeks ago and Zapu members were shocked to see Busha addressing the gathering yet he did not belong to the party.
However, party leader Dumiso Dabengwa yesterday dismissed the claims saying the gathering was not a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
He said Busha was making a presentation to the party members on economics, not politics.
But party insiders said they suspected Busha had interests in Zapu.
Party structures from Matabeleland North are scheduled to meet Dabengwa next week to seek clarity on the matter.
“Members of the NEC were shocked to see Busha in their meeting and even more shocked when he was given the floor to address them,” said a party insider.
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“With the chaos that has been going on in the party, we are querying Busha’s intention in our party and why and how he got to be invited to an internal meeting.
“There is fear that the party leadership wants to smuggle Busha into the party, something that we are totally against.
“We are opposed to any coalition with anyone from outside the party.”
But Dabengwa said if the Matabeleland North structures wanted clarification, they should have approached him.
“They should have come and sought an explanation they would get before reporting to the Press,” he said.
“These are efforts of someone who is trying to start a fire that will never burn.
“It was not an address, but a presentation of a paper on economics.
“The presentation has been made in a number of countries.
“It was not done in secret and it is there even for you to verify.
“If people want to know about the presentation, they are free to come to me and I will show them.”
Zapu has recently been dogged by infighting that has resulted in the expulsion of Bulawayo provincial chairman Retired Colonel Ray Ncube and the suspension of NEC member representing the youth Mqondisi Moyo.
Meanwhile, Zapu youths are set to meet in Magwegwe on Sunday to drum up support for the party.
The youths, according to insiders, want to try and clean up the battered image of the party as a result of the infighting.
