SIX candidates have been nominated by provinces to battle it out for the Zapu presidency as the party gears for its elective congress to be held next year.
BY PRAISEMORE SITHOLE
The congress date is yet to be announced.
Zapu lost its veteran leader Dumiso Dabengwa in May this year. Dabengwa died in Kenya on his way from India where he had gone for treatment. Isaac Mabuka is currently acting president.
Six candidates have been nominated to contest for the post after Mabuka revealed his intention to retire from active politics.
Zapu spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa yesterday confirmed the development to Southern Eye.
“A number of individuals will be running for the office: Mark Mbayiwa, Strike Mkandla, Future Msebele, former Vice-President Emelia Mkaratirwa, Mateo Sibanda and Iphithule Maphosa,” he said.
“Zapu will definitely have a new leadership as of 2020 going forward. We lost president Dabengwa before the end of his term which was due in 2020.”
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Maphosa said the national people’s council had appointed Mabuka to finish Dabengwa’s term.
“Mabuka has since indicated that he will be seeking retirement at the end of his term, which leaves us with a new leader at the helm. However, we are expecting more names towards the congress,” Maphosa said.
“We have since utilised the opportunities of the coming congress to embark on a deliberate agenda of renewal, repositioning the Zapu ideology. Surely exciting times are expected.”
He said nominations were done at provincial congresses.
Maphosa said of the six nominated candidates, four have shown interest to contest the position except himself and Mukaratirwa.
“You should expect a new look Zapu with an updated contemporary ideological programme and policy framework designed to fit and respond to current needs of the population,” he said.
“We are talking about the fourth Industrial Revolution-based policies that will address the needs of our country.” Maphosa also blasted the Zanu PF government for allegedly taking the country back to the Stone Age.
“Also high on the agenda is a deliberate advancement of equality, freedom and fairness through a rigorous drive for devolution to be implemented. That will aid our goal of building a democratic Zimbabwe,” Maphosa said.
