ZANU PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo avoided detailing the controversial history of recently appointed Bulawayo provincial party chairman Callistus Ndlovu when he unveiled him to journalists in the city on Tuesday.
Report Nduduzo Tshuma
Khaya Moyo had met the Zanu PF leadership to brief them on his fact-finding mission in the province before the Easter holidays to probe worsening infighting. The Zanu PF politburo last week appointed Ndlovu as provincial chairman, demoting Killian Sibanda to the post of vice-chairman.
Khaya Moyo told journalists the politburo decided to expand the Bulawayo provincial executive by co-opting businesspeople and academics into the structure.
The five are former Bulawayo mayor, Dennis Ndlovu, Zanu PF women’s league secretary for lands Judith Ncube, Lyton Majada, David Ndlovu and Ismail Jassat. Khaya Moyo mentioned each member and outlined their political history, but when it came to Ndlovu, Zimbabwe’s former ambassador to South Africa said he found it not necessary as the politician was known by everyone.
“I will not go into the history of Ndlovu as you all know him, he has been a persistent and committed member and commands a lot of respect in the province and district structures,” he said.
“These are women and men of vast experience to strengthen and expand the provincial council and the announcement was received with jubilation from the party.” Ndlovu has a controversial political history after he allegedly referred to PF Zapu as a “dead donkey” when he defected to Zanu PF soon after independence.
Analysts have dismissed his appointment as suicidal saying it would harm the party’s image at a time it is seeking relevance in Matabeleland. Khaya Moyo said focus should shift to the forthcoming elections and return Bulawayo to the days of glory, adding that particular attention should be given to tertiary institutions like the National University of Science and Technology.
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“We should ensure that the students know that the party cares for them, there will be need for a thorough mass mobilisation because the next elections will be a game of numbers,” he said.
In a veiled attack on Mines and Mining Development minister Obert Mpofu, whom Sibanda was accused of working with, Khaya Moyo warned party officials against what he called “reckless use of money to mobilise or buy party leadership”.
“That is not acceptable, people belong to the party and if anyone has money, they should bring it to the party and we will accept it and give them a receipt,” he said.
“I chair the party’s disciplinary committee and let me warn those (using money) that I will be watching. Those that cause factionalism and anyone found guilty will be brought to book
“No one is above the party, we owe our allegiance to the party and not any individual. We are a party with a history and we will defend this country because we fought for it.”
Meanwhile, Zanu PF provincial secretaries for transport and welfare Langelihle Mathe and finance Simon Khabo, who were suspended for alleged insubordination and fraud, are set to bounce back after Khaya Moyo described the move as unprocedural.
“We are aware there have been some unprocedural suspensions and we say to the expanded committee, revisit that because it is unacceptable,” he said.
The suspension of the two is believed to have ignited violent clashes that led to the visit by Khaya Moyo, who was accompanied by national party commissar Webster Shamu and secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa.
