Let's give Dabengwa time says Zanu-PF

Former PF-Zapu secretary-general Cephas Msipa has said ZAPU leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa should be given amply time to consult his supporters on President Mugabe's plea to return to Zanu-PF.

Adding his voice to the President's Unity Day call on Zapu cadres who left Zanu-PF to come back, the former Midlands governor said the re-union message was very important and Dr Dabengwa should be guided by the fact that there are no permanent enemies in politics.

Msipa, who played a key role in the signing of the 1987 historic Unity Accord, said it does not help the country when revolutionary cadres work in isolation.

He said the former Zipra intelligence commander needed to be given time to think over the President's call without necessarily "stampeding" him into a decision.

Such an approach, said Msipa, will give the Zapu cadres time to consult with their followers and ensure there was no discord in the quest for a collective decision.

He told Chronicle: "As a former Zapu cadre myself and having played a role in forging the Unity Accord, I was extremely pleased when President Mugabe made that passionate plea on the need to work together from among the former freedom fighters and in particular, the Dr Dabengwa-led Zapu.

"It was a very important statement from the Head of State and Government and I think Dr Dabengwa is thinking hard about it."

Msipa reminisced how, during the negotiations towards the signing of the Unity Accord with the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo, then the PF-Zapu president, he visited Dr Dabengwa who was in detention at Chikurubi Prison and told him about the unity talks which were going on between PF Zapu  and Zanu and asked him about his views.

"His reply was very frank and straight forward, that he was out of picture and could not make informed decisions but emphasised on the need to do what was good for the country," said Msipa.

He said it was therefore a challenge on Dr Dabengwa to think about the need to work for the good of the country and do what was best for the country.

Msipa said Dr Dabengwa needed to be given time to consult with other Zapu cadres so that they could make the decision as a team.

"What is pleasing is that Dr Dabengwa himself has said he was consulting others on the subject (rejoining Zanu-PF) but let's give him time. Let's not stampede him into making decisions," he said.

Msipa said during the unity negotiations, he always advised Dr Nkomo to forget about the past and focus on what was good for the country.

He said Dr Dabengwa should bear in mind that there were no permanent enemies or permanent friends in politics. Said Msipa: "During the Unity Accord negotiations, I would always emphasise to Dr Nkomo on the need to forget about the past and focus on the future for the good of our country. In the same vein, I would like to also urge Dr Dabengwa, a long time friend, to forget about the past and think what is good for the country, which is unity."

Former Zapu cadres such Jane Ngwenya and Politburo members, Cdes Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo, Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu and Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube have commended President Mugabe's stance and said Zanu-PF was ready to welcome the Zapu rebels.