Zapu seek correction of war 'distortions'

A clique of former liberation movement,-PF Zapu, cadres have formed a research body to investigate the then Joshua Nkomo-led party's contributions to the struggle for independence.

In a statement over the weekend, project co-ordinator Tjenesani Ntungakwa announced the formation of the Revolutionary Research Institute of Zimbabwe (RRIZ) which he said seeks to document the role played by-PF Zapu in the liberation struggle.

"RRIZ is an initiative focused on documenting the contribution made by the Zimbabwe African Peoples' Union, Patriotic Front (PF Zapu) and its military wing, the Zimbabwe Peoples' Revolutionary Army (Zipra)," said the statement.

Despite the semblance of unity exhibited in public, there has always been muted discontent within the Zapu component with the united Zanu-PF following the attainment of independence, regarding the contributions of the party that mainly operated in the country's western half.

The discontent led to hawks then led by liberation war hero and intelligence supremo, as well as ex-cabinet minister Dumiso Dabengwa breaking away to revive Zapu in 2009.

Ntungakwa said RRIZ, as part of its mandate, would try to unravel the "hidden aspects" of Zapu's contributions to the war effort through a litany of events beginning next month.

"As part of its several objectives, the RRIZ aims at engaging in discussion Forums, workshops, interactive sessions and other related events. The platform is there to ensure that the hidden aspects of the struggle in Zimbabwe are consistently documented and available for scholarly and related forms of research," Ntungakwa said.

"For now, the Revolutionary Research Institute of Zimbabwe (RRIZ) shall be hosting a discussion forum in Harare based on the theme; The history of our liberation struggle, distortions, omissions and implications for the prevailing socio-political order.

Asked on whether the research institute had links with Dabengwa's Zapu, Ntungakwa told The Zimbabwe Mail that the liberation party's cadres were found across the country's socio-political divide.

"It (RRIZ) is developing itself as a research platform with its focus on the contributions made by  Zapu and its military wing (Zipra) to the liberation and development of Zimbabwe," Ntungakwa said.

"Zapu trained many technocrats under Zipra who are in government today.

"People who were in Zapu and Zipra are in different political parties and institutions today but not all of them are active in politics, for example, George Kahari the educationist, and Phibeon Makoni, who was back then in charge of the education department under Cephas Msipa, is in industry and commerce and those at the top of the army like Philip Valerio Sibanda (army commander) while others are down-trodden and life has not been rosy for them.

Makheto Ndebele, aka Jack Mpofu (Darkie), a former high level flying instructor, is struggling to make ends meet and Tinaye Chigudu (former Manicaland governor) who was part of a Russian trained crack unit and of course hundreds who are in Zanu-PF today".

Dabengwa's project, that also had within its ranks another liberation war heroine, Thenjiwe Lesabe, has struggled to assert its presence within Zimbabwe's political terrain, which has been dominated by Zanu-PF and the MDC-T.

In the harmonised elections, convincingly won by Mugabe last year, Zapu failed to present candidates for the legislature, let alone the presidency, due to financial and structural constraints.

However, the former Home Affairs minister insists the project is alive and well and will with time find its place to challenge and form a government.