'I'm no pushover,' says Zanu-PF chairperson

ZANU-PF Bulawayo interim provincial chairperson Dennis Ndlovu yesterday said he is no pushover and will not be used by officials pursuing selfish or factional interests.

Ndlovu, addressing an emergency provincial co-ordinating committee meeting at the party's Davies Hall headquarters, said he was aware that the party was affected by internal fighting but now focus should be directed to winning the five vacant parliamentary seats in the June 10 by-elections.

The former Bulawayo Mayor and five members of the top executive were presented before the PCC by Zanu-PF Politburo member, Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo following the dissolution of the remaining five members of the provincial executive led by suspended chairman Professor Callistus Ndlovu.

A vote of no confidence was passed against Prof Ndlovu and five members of his to executive in the run up to the Zanu-PF 6th National People's Congress in December last year.

The initial petition was reversed by the Politburo and Prof Ndlovu was suspended on the second attempt. However, the Politburo last week upheld the initial petition leading to the dissolution of the remaining five top members of Prof Ndlovu's executive.

After Prof Ndlovu's suspension, his then deputy Christopher Mdingwa Dube was appointed acting chairperson before the dissolution of Dube and the remainder of the top six.

They were replaced by Ndlovu and five members of the top executive installed by Zanu-PF national commissar Savior Kasukuwere last Saturday.

Ndlovu said he was prepared to work with the people and his office would be open for everyone to access freely.

"I appeal to you to work with us so that we could do our best. I have been in this party for many years but I don't belong to any faction and will never belong to one. I won't allow you to use me for the benefit of your faction but as Zanu-PF," he said.

Ndlovu said the province would only win the vacant seats left by expelled MDC-T MPs if they worked together.

"If you once herded cattle, you will know that a herd is only divided if the herdboys are divided. If you are divided, you won't be able to work. The leaders are the herdboys and need to work together," he said.

"I know we have roughed each other up here and there but we're not going to dwell on that. We have an important job to win the by-elections. It needs unity of purpose. I know there have been fights inside but let's take those fights outside and win elections."

Ndlovu said the party has not had Zanu-PF representatives in the province, "and we're the ones fighting amongst ourselves. But you should ask yourself where you're going. You may win in internal elections but how far have you gone after that?

"We all need each other. You may boast that you beat a colleague in the internal polls but you'll need that very colleague to back you when you go for elections. We want those seats; we have to win them at all costs.

"If you have money, don't use it to buy and divide members. Rather save it for the bigger election. If you buy members, you will divide the people and by the time you get to the real election, that money would have been finished," he said.

Ndlovu said one did not need to belong to any faction or be referred to as the "chairman's people" to be able to access his office.

He said Zanu-PF was the only revolutionary party in the country that brought independence and would not allow those who had no idea of how the country was won from whites to dictate the pace of the party and country.