News / Local
Violent Jabulani Sibanda divides Mujuru's party - report
02 Jun 2016 at 08:11hrs | Views
Opposition Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) party's top leadership has reportedly stirred controversy over the inclusion of former war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda in top leadership with some Bulawayo party members saying they were uncomfortable with his alleged past human rights abuses.
According to the latest report produced by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), some ZimPF members claimed Sibanda committed heinous crimes while in Zanu PF and should not hold a top post in the opposition party.
"Former Vice-President Joice Mujuru's Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) party, which was making inroads in the province, was rocked by infighting, as some members were objecting to war veteran and former Zanu PF mobiliser, Jabulani Sibanda's influence, saying he was a perpetrator of gross human rights violations," the organisation said in its April 2016 report.
"Yet, others were resisting the inclusion of former MDC-T members, saying they were not to be trusted, as they changed parties frequently.
"On April 9, 2016, at a meeting at the Small City Hall in Bulawayo Central constituency, one Max Mnkandla and other ZimPF members complained that Jabulani Sibanda should not be part of the party's leadership structures in Bulawayo."
ZimPF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo and Sibanda denied the claims in separate interviews yesterday.
"It's the first time I'm hearing hear such. I have addressed meetings organised by other parties and I have not heard people saying Sibanda should not be a guest speaker because of some alleged past," the firebrand former war veterans leader said.
Gumbo said: "I have not received any reports of that nature. That is not true. Actually, the party is seized with its mobilisation activities. We have made huge inroads and we are quite happy about the support that we now command in Matabeleland."
According to the latest report produced by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), some ZimPF members claimed Sibanda committed heinous crimes while in Zanu PF and should not hold a top post in the opposition party.
"Former Vice-President Joice Mujuru's Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) party, which was making inroads in the province, was rocked by infighting, as some members were objecting to war veteran and former Zanu PF mobiliser, Jabulani Sibanda's influence, saying he was a perpetrator of gross human rights violations," the organisation said in its April 2016 report.
"Yet, others were resisting the inclusion of former MDC-T members, saying they were not to be trusted, as they changed parties frequently.
ZimPF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo and Sibanda denied the claims in separate interviews yesterday.
"It's the first time I'm hearing hear such. I have addressed meetings organised by other parties and I have not heard people saying Sibanda should not be a guest speaker because of some alleged past," the firebrand former war veterans leader said.
Gumbo said: "I have not received any reports of that nature. That is not true. Actually, the party is seized with its mobilisation activities. We have made huge inroads and we are quite happy about the support that we now command in Matabeleland."
Source - Byo24News
