Dabengwa admits to talks with Mutasa

ZAPU leader Dumiso Dabengwa yesterday admitted that his party held preliminary talks with ex-Zanu-PF leaders who were victims of a vicious purge that targeted suspected supporters of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

Dabengwa's admission followed statements by former Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa that the disgruntled Mujuru faction was preparing to launch a political party.

Mutasa said the party would be formed by old Zanu-PF members such as Dabengwa and former Finance minister Simba Makoni who left the ruling party in frustration over the years.

The former Home Affairs minister said they had advised Mutasa and his group to first disengage from Zanu-PF before they could pursue concrete talks.

Dabengwa said in the event of an agreement between Zapu and Mutasa's group, his party would retain its name.

"During our talks we told them that we already had another agreement we signed with the MDC," he said. "We told them we would retain our identity as Zapu even in the event of the agreement with them and that is where we ended our talks."