'A 'dead' Zanu-PF will not win elections' says Nkala

by Staff reporter

2012 June 29 21:18:37 | 2625 Views

Enos Nkala, a founder of Zanu-PF who claims to be one of President Robert Mugabe's best friends has labelled Mugabe's Zanu-PF a dead party which will not stand a chance against Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T in the coming elections.

Nkala is famous for renouncing his tribal origins at the height of Gukurahundi. He is famously quoted saying: "Aluba ubuNdebele buyagezwa ngabe sengabugeza. (If at all one could wash off the Ndebele identity, I would have long done that)."

Borrowing from Zanu-PF Central Committee member and collegue, Callistus Ndlovu, who served as a Cabinet Minister in the 1980s, who was quoted as having described PF-Zapu as a "dead donkey" Nkala said: "A 'dead' Zanu-PF will not stand a chance against Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's 'well-oiled political machine'.

The former finance and defence minister dismissed Zanu-PF as a lifeless party which can no longer win back the support it has lost over the years.

"Zanu-PF is now a dead party. Tsvangirai's party will win the election but people of Zimbabwe will have to choose a leader with good leadership qualities though Tsvangirai lacks this.

"I can foresee the MDC getting the presidency," said Nkala, who held a private meeting with Mugabe in May.

He said factionalism would split votes in favour of Mugabe's opponents, adding that all Tsvangirai needed to do now was work on his character flaws and mechanisms to ensure a smooth transfer of power.

"By the time we go for elections, Zanu-PF will be a completely dead party even though it was formed in my house. Factionalism has affected the veins of the party," said Nkala.

Meanwhile, the man who is famous for renouncing his tribal origins - Nkala - said he doubted that a strong party would emerge from Matabeleland region to lead the country. He credited the region for good leadership but "the ball is taken away from them whilst they are still playing by those from the north because they claim to be the majority".

"There is Zapu led by Dumiso Dabengwa but I am not clear if they are spread well on the ground and there are these small pieces of political parties that also have the right to be there," he said.

Nkala has admitted that many people from Matabeleland don't hold him high due to his Gukurahundi role.

"Many Ndebeles don't like me, I disagreed with Nkomo and left Zapu, then (Ndabaningi) Sithole and then (President) Robert Mugabe and then sengizageza ubundebele (I will wash off my Ndebele identity). It's nonsense, idiotic. You suffer for your views, your strong views, my denial will not help, go and pick the newspaper where I am quoted as having made the statement and show me."

Nkala and Mugabe formed Zanu-PF in 1963 at his home in Harare's Highfield suburb and went on to become a powerful minister after independence before resigning to escape answering charges of corruption.

Zanu-PF Elections

Source: DN