No more Zapu in Zanu PF

Civic organisation leader and political parties have claimed that there is no longer any Zapu in Zanu PF as envisaged by the Unity Accord which was signed by President Robert Mugabe then Prime minister and PF Zapu leader the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo in 1987.

The two liberation political movements signed the pact at the height of the Gukurahundi masacres which were launched by the Zanu PF government on Nkomo's followers.

An estimated 20 000 people were killed during the genocide in Matabeleland and Midlands.

Nyanda Chairman Geniva Sibanda said there is no more Zapu in Zanu PF. All former Zapu people in Zanu PF were absorbed by Zanu PF.

"The tradition of reserving selected positions of influence is now a thing of the past," said Sibanda. "Unity Accord has lost meaning perhaps it was never a unity accord but a strategical surrender of Zapu after the massacre of over 20 000 people in its stronghold of Matabeleland and Midlands by the fifth brigade."

He said the playing ground was never levelled on the accord signing.

Norman Mpofu questioned what was meant by the accord in the first place describing the document as a surrender by Zapu to Zanu PF.

He said Zapu members surrendered for physical safety or economic benefit and Zimbabweans must never lose sight that many people re in politics for profit.

"How else can one explain the logic of remaining in an arrangement which favours one side," said Mpofu.

"Zanu PF has never minced its position when it comes to power. It does not respect agreements that do not favour it. This so called unity accord was violated before it was signed thus why the new party was Zanu PF and symbol is a cock. Zapu was swallowed long back."

Mpofu said the involvement of Vice president Phelekezela Mphoko, Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo and now State Security minister as representatives of Zapu is just a bait to catch the gullible Matabeleland votes.

"They are also used as pawns in the really Zanu PF game," he said.