Zapu Golden Jubilee celebrations as it happened: Report

3:32 ajbhova: The President of ZAPU Dr D Dabengwa speaks against reverse racism as that practiced by Zanu. [via Twitter]

----------- Bulawayo24 News Report from 15:47hrs ------------

3:47 Bulawayo24 News: Bringing you live update from Babourfields Stadium in Bulawayo. The 50th Anniversary of ZAPU

3:49 Bulawayo24 News: Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn representative delivers soliderity massage to ZAPU

3:52 Bulawayo24 News: Wilson Khumbula says Zimbabwe is not yet free.

3:53 Bulawayo24 News: He says people are timid of ZANU and even children who know nothing about politics are scared of the name Zanu Pf

3:55 Bulawayo24 News: Khumbula says even Zanu Pf slogan is an embodiment of death, 'before they start adressing, they always say Down Down with so and so.'

3:56 Bulawayo24 News: Khumbula said the next government will be a coalition between Dabengwa and Makoni

3:59 Bulawayo24 News: Zapu Mat North Provincial chairperson mourns the death of the founders of Zapu.

3:59 Bulawayo24 News: He assures people that Mat North is ready and prepared to continue wth the struggle

4:01 Bulawayo24 News: Midlands province chairperson, a MaDube says women are the backbone of any institution. She implored women to take up leadership roles within the party and urged them to stop being cry babies

4:02 Bulawayo24 News: She congratulated Zapu for attining for years.

4:03 Bulawayo24 News: 'Leadership is by inspiration not by perspiration. Akufanelanga uginqe ukuthi uze ube ngumkhokheli. (You must not sweat to be a leader by beating people) People have to elect you

4:05 Bulawayo24 News: She urged the party to be steadfast and vigorous in campaigning and achieve in 5 years what they achieved in 50 years.

4:06 Bulawayo24 News: Harare province chairperson addresses

4:07 Bulawayo24 News: He pays tribute to Zipra, Zanla and Umkhonto WeSizwe and said these fighters will never be forgotten

4:10 Bulawayo24 News: Ian Battles, a represantative of Zimbabwe liberation conference addresses

4:11 Bulawayo24 News: He made a plea to former Zanla members who call themselves communist as well as former ZCTU to join the communist and continue with the struggle.

4:11 Artwell: Currently: Solidarity messages from local and international organisations (ANC, MPLA, Frelimo, Swap, ambassadors)

4:12 Bulawayo24 News: 'Victory is certain,' he said

4:14 Comment From Mlindelwa Khuphe: Congrats ZAPU, let's face the next 50 ruling Zimbabwe.

4:14 Comment From Lamulani Mpofu: Poison is now spreading njengoba watsho nje wathi oginyi zapu uginyi ipoison

4:15 Bulawayo24 News: Mashonaland West Chairperson addresses

4:16 Bulawayo24 News: 'It is in Mashonaland West where the Smith regime suffred most when Zipra forces threw missiles using a plane.'

4:18 Bulawayo24 News:The addressing official said Zapu is a giant partyand it has risen.

4:20 Bulawayo24 News: 'The minows sitting on the shoulders of a giant call themselves giants but the giant is watching and slowly taking centre stage,' Mat South representative said.

4:21 Bulawayo24 News: He said Zapu has a traceable reference

4:21 Bulawayo24 News: Mashonaland Central Chairperson addresses

4:23 Bulawayo24 News: There is a scar on people's heart tht was left by fighters when they gained freedom from whites and that needs needs to be rectified by way of voting

4:24 Bulawayo24 News: Zapu SA representative addresses

4:25 Bulawayo24 News: He said Zapu is the only party that will form a government of people, by the people and for the people.

4:26 Bulawayo24 News: Diaspora represantative addresses.

4:29 Bulawayo24 News: He said Zimbabwe is one country and people should learnall languages. 'Bantu beSishoneni, fundani isiNdebele. Bantu beSishoneni, fundani isiShona. What nonsense is it that we have people interprating whenever one addresses in Ndebele,' he asked.

4:30 Comment From Funkai basvi: Ameno nhasi

4:30 Bulawayo24 News: Byo Province chairperson, Ray Ncube said the late Dr Joshua Nkomo always said, 'Zapu would axist in any form.'

4:35 Comment From Roy Mdawini: Zapu!!!!! you make Zimbabwe people proud, without you there is no future and hope

4:39 Comment From Guest: "Soon we will find out who are real revolutionaries" ZAPU Empusweni

4:40 Bulawayo24 News: 'Zapu is the mother of all political parties in this country,' said Zapu's women organisation. ZAWu

4:41 Bulawayo24 News: The celebrations break for lunch

5:30 Bulawayo24 News: Zapu 50th Anniversary celebrations marred by confusion, before the break, it was announced that the celebrations are breaking for lunch. However, it appears the celebrations are over and the organising team is removing the tent.

5:31 Comment From T. Mpedzi Kuzekuse mfowethu. Am kidding. Till late I think.

5:32 Comment From Senzo Manyathela: Has DD addressed the pple yet? approximately how many people are present?

5:33 Bulawayo24 News: Even the Soul Brothers that were scheduled to perform did not turn up, even though David Masondo turned up.

5:37 Bulawayo24 News: The Soul Brothers Band was reportedly deported because Zapu did not apply for permit. Moses Ngwenya was part of the deported members.

5:42 Bulawayo24 News: Black Umfolosi and Sandra Ndebele also did not turn up allegedly because they were disgruntled by the fact that only Sould Brothers were paid to perform.

5:45 Comment From Socks: Plenty of lessons to be learnt by Zapu next time then. Is the event still on or not. Please someone tell us

5:46 Bulawayo24 News: it appears the celebrations are over

5:47 Comment From Socks: Did Dabengwa address, Did the secretary general address?

5:47 Bulawayo24 News: Soul Brothers were reportedly paid 68 000 Rand yet locals were never paid any cent. However, band manager is said to have committed suicide after squandering the money a move that devided the band.

5:50 Bulawayo24 News: Meanwhile, Dumiso Dabengwa and the whole executive deserted a handful supporters that attended the celebrations. Zapu executive drove off without officially closing the function.

5:50 Comment From Guest Zapu is like an old tree that has tested all weathers, what is happening today has once happened before and like before, Zapu will emerge stronger

5:51 Bulawayo24 News: Approximately 400 people attended the celebrations.

5:52 Comment From Socks: In a nutshell, the celebrations were a failure then

5:52 Comment From Guest: DD dressed peope around 1pm GMT

5:53 Bulawayo24 News: There is chaos in the field and an official is trying to bring sanity.

5:54 Comment From Socks: To Guest how many people turned up

5:55 Bulawayo24 News: The crowd is running wild and chanting Soul Brothers, Soul Brotherrs, Soul Brothers. They are also singing, Int' oyenzayo, siyayizonda.

5:56 Comment From Socks: how big is the crown Bulawayo24News

5:58 Bulawayo24 News: Approximately 400 people attended the celebrations.

5:59 Comment From Socks: Was there an explanation as to why all the bands did not turn up

5:59 Bulawayo24 News: The crowd is dispersing amid grumbling and gruntling.

6:01 Comment From Socks I am disappointed

6:02 Bulawayo24 News: Disgruntled officials are accussing Dumiso Dabengwa of hurting Robert Mugabe and yet practising the same leadership style.

6:03 Comment From Socks: Which zapu officials were there. But this has nothing to do with Dabengwa, its the fault of organisers, they were incapable of delivering

6:05 Comment From Socks: The leadership must go or else nothing will be achieved

6:06 Bulawayo24 News: Officials are however, accusing Zanu PF of causing the deportation of Soul Brothers band members.

6:09  Comment From Socks: Zapu organisers must have known that a foreign band needs a work permit to come and perform. They should not blame zanu pf for their own basic failures. Zapu has potential but the heads leading it are old and clueless

6:11  Bulawayo24 News: Thank you for following us live from BF stadium in Bulawayo. Till we meet on other events.