Zanu-PF shuns ailing Nkala

Enos Nkala, one of Zanu-PF's founding fathers and a former Cabinet minister during Zimbabwe's formative years, is cutting a lonely figure even on his hospital bed as those in lower ranks of the party shun visiting him for fear of victimisation.

Most in Zanu-PF's rank and file  have remained transfixed with preparations for crunch elections this year than worry about the bed-ridden Nkala.

Nkala fell out of favour with the party in the late 1980s and has maintained a love-hate relationship with President Robert Mugabe that has intrigued political analysts, the opposition and even senior Zanu-PF party members.

President Mugabe has, however, denied any ill-feelings towards his fellow liberation struggle comrade, maintaining that such suggestions were vain imaginations of the media.

Nkala, who was hospitalised last week for a kidney and heart condition at Mater Dei hospital in Bulawayo, was visited by  Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu, who also facilitated a telephone conversation during his visit between President Mugabe and Nkala. President Mugabe reportedly indicated that he was praying for his dear old friend's speedy recovery.

But despite overtures from President Mugabe to reach out to the ailing Nkala, it appears that the rest of the party is going on about its usual business. Those in the lower echelons of the party say they cannot afford being seen with Nkala who at one point became a rabid critique of Zanu-PF and President Mugabe.

To be on the safe side, they would rather not be seen with him in public.

"This week, we have not gone to visit Nkala because it has been something which is being done by the members of the Politburo", said Killian Sibanda, the Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson.

"The top leadership has been at the forefront and they have visited him in the hospital with President Mugabe having held a phone conversation with Nkala. At the lower levels (provincial structure) we have managed only to go and see him, but it has not been our place since he deals with the top leadership".

Most Zanu-PF members canvassed by The Financial Gazette said they were not aware of any form of assistance being given to the Nkala family to help with medical bills.

This was corroborated by Simon Khaya Moyo, the party's national chairperson, who said he was not aware of any form of assistance being given to Nkala and his family during his illness.

"I have no knowledge on the matter and I do not know how the party is handling it," he said.

Zanu-PF sources indicate that President Mugabe was keen to remain in touch with Nkala, as he represents not only one of the last of his fellow liberation compatriots, but is also keen to glean insights on how to reclaim Zanu-PF's dominance of the Matabeleland provinces, which have become a stronghold of the Movement for Democratic Change led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for the past decade.

The two met last year in May at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo, where they held nearly an hour-long meeting.

Nkala told reporters after the meeting that President Mugabe was tired and wanted to step down after the next elections.