Dabengwa 'political impotent, divisive and clueless': Zapu NEC official

BULAWAYO - A National Executive Council official of Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu) has described party leader, Dumiso Dabengwa, as "an impotent divisive politician and clueless person wasting people's time".

Zapu is scheduled to hold its congress later this year and there are a lot of increasing calls for Dabengwa to pave way for a new generation. "If we go back and check Dabengwa's political history, it will not be shocking to discover that he is the worst politician to have ever evolved in the country," said the official on condition of anonymity fearing reprisals.

"Zapu had started on a positive note, troubling Zanu (PF), but due to Dabengwa lacking political wisdom the party is now worst than a group of people gathered to drink beer in a beer hall. People have left the organisation in numbers as a result of generally inactivity, lack of lacklustre leadership. The man is extremely uninspiring and should be dumped before he completes his term of office."

The official further challenged young people to take over the leadership and labelled Dabengwa as "too Zanu (PF)".

"If Zapu is to be seriously revived then new blood and new leadership should emerge. Nothing more, nothing less will help the situation if Dabengwa remains at the helm of the party. This will also help protect his legacy and for new ideas to help grow the organisation. He himself knows that he is bereft of any ideas. His politics is too old fashioned and too close to Zanu dynamics. We need a new narrative for a better organisation."

He added that the financial crippled party will fail to host its congress later this year Dabengwa's leadership is not dethroned. "The party does not have a single cent or an office to operate from. Party members should realise that it's high time Dabengwa and his cabal are removed from office so we prepare for our congress. As long Dabengwa and his gang are present we will not manage to have a congress as funders and well-wishers are no longer interested in associating with an idea-less and clueless person. Since 2009 we have had more suspensions and resignations than mobilising people which is of great concern if you are a serious political party," he said. In 2011, former Zapu youth president, Mehluli Moyo who resigned as youth leader in 2013 was quoted in media describing Dabengwa, as a dictator, sell out and agent of his former Zanu (PF) party and out to destroy Zapu.

He further criticised him for embezzling funds meant for Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (MZWP), for committing grossly human rights abuses at Chiru Farm which left thousands homeless when he was Home Affairs Minister and for having vast businesses empires here where he nearly owns half of Matabeleland and in South Africa where he has a lot of properties.

Dabengwa who is said to be a close ally of outspoken war veteran, Edward "Ngayaya" Ndlovu was also blamed for destroying Zapu external provinces where he imposed his blue-eyed boys and unconstitutional suspending Rt. Col Ray Ncube, Smiley Dube, Cyril Ndebele and Evans Ndebele who had a potential of growing Zapu.

Of late, there have been growing calls for Dabengwa to hand over reigns of party leadership to young people like Dr. Larry Mbobo, Rt Col. Ray Ncube, Stylish Magida and party vice president Emelia Mukarakatirwa.

Six years ago Zapu divorced from a 21 year old marriage with Zanu (PF). Efforts to get comments from Zapu spokesperson, Mjobisa Noko and Dabengwa were fruitless as they were unreachable.

- thulaninkala@webmail.co.za