Zapu reacts angrily to Nkomo remarks

Zapu has reacted angrily to sentiments by Viceâ€"President John Nkomo at the weekend that if Dumiso Dabengwa wants to revive Zapu he should first raise the late nationalist Joshua Nkomo from the dead.

Nkomo was quoted in weekend State media reports in a speech read on his behalf by Matabeleland North governor Sithokozile Mathuthu as saying as far as he was concerned, Zapu did not exist.

Zapu national executive council member Mqondisi Moyo said the utterances were in bad taste, Newsday reported.

"It is Zanu PF leadership from this region which does not exist," he said. "A lot of things are happening in this region and they are not standing up. We are reminded of the problems around the hero status of sons and daughters of Matabeleland.

"Nkomo, as a Vice President (VP) from this region, has no say on this. He failed to stand up for Thenjiwe Lesabe and Amos Ngwenya."

Moyo said John Nkomo and other Zanu-PF leaders from Matabeleland seemed to be on a "pay-as-you-talk-negative-about-Matabeleland scheme".

"It's as if the more they speak badly about Matabeleland, the more they earn," he said.

"It is an insult to us in Matabeleland who don't believe in the possibility of raising the dead except for witchcraft.

"Joshua Nkomo never owned Zapu, but led the party. It was never called Joshua Nkomo. The Viceâ€"President must know that it is an insult to talk about raising Joshua Nkomo from the dead. Who doesn't know that Joshua Nkomo is dead? We need not be always reminded about the death of Joshua Nkomo. We want him to be respected in his death."

Nkomo was quoted as saying: "Cdes, there is no Zapu which has been revived, Joshua Nkomo has not risen from the dead."