Gwanda ZANU PF torn apart over Maduma

Reports coming through from Gwanda indicate that the ruling ZANU PF party's Gwanda District is torn apart on recent reports that MDC senior member in Gwanda Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo was on his way to the ruling party.

Sources within the party indicate that there is a group that is demanding to know why and how the party leadership has failed to bring the vocal activist to the party while the other group is happy that Maduma has virtually refused the temptation to join the party.

It is reported that Maduma has been involved in intensive negotiations to join the party with the Minister of Provincial Affairs Matabeleland South Abednico Ncube, former Gwanda Senator Japhet Dube and Gwanda Deputy Mayor Albert Ndlovu.

According to the sources, the trio has been luring Maduma to the party ear marking to use him replace the current Gwanda Central Member of Parliament Edison Gumbo who is not liked by senior party members in Gwanda because he is from Mberengwa and not Gwanda.

Some sectors also indicate that they may have also been ear marking him for Gwanda North which is currently held by Madodana Sibanda who is also not favourable in the party structures in Gwanda.


The party sources further indicate that a certain group of supporters in the party particularly from Gwanda North have been pressurising Minister Ncube to make sure that he lands Maduma in the party. Gwanda North ZANU PF supporters particularly those in the Wenlock area where Maduma comes from are reported to be in the fore front in calling for Maduma to join the party.

It is reported that they are generally not happy with Madodana Sibanda who they claim is from Matobo District and was imposed on them at the primary elections. On the other hand, another section of the party is reported to be celebrating that Ncube appears to have lost his bid to win Maduma to ZANU PF.

The group sympathetic to both Sibanda and Gumbo is said to have been calling on other ZANU PF members not to accept Maduma when he comes to the party as he is a known critic of the ruling party and can never be trusted when he joins the party.

Also according to the source, Maduma was meant to have been paraded at the party offices in Gwanda last week and the move was stopped by Provincial Chairman and Minister of Sports Andrew Langa who demanded that he must first have a discussion with Maduma before he is accepted into the party.

According to the source Minister Langa wanted to first draw assurance from the MDC man if he is willingly joining the party or it was because of the invitation from the Gwanda District.

The sources further indicate that Madodana Sibanda in the company of vocal Gwanda Councillor Thulani Moyo were heard saying that Maduma must be resisted at all cost as he is only coming to the party because he is now desperate for money following the bankruptcy of the MDC which was bank rolling him.

They also claimed he was not coming into ZANU PF genuinely but only coming in to wrestle for their positions in the party. Reports further indicate that plans were underway to boo Maduma and demonstrate against him if he came to the ZANU PF offices. Contacted for comment, Maduma indicated that as per his statement issued in an interview with Bulawayo24 News last week, he is not at all joining ZANU PF and has made his position clear to all concerned.

"I am not joining ZANU PF at all for now I remain a very loyal and committed cadre of the MDC and my immediate task is to make sure we push the revival plan of the party following the July 31 election disaster." Said Maduma.

"Yes I have been enticed by a few people from my home area who have indicated their willingness to see me representing them in some capacity now or in the future, but only God knows how tomorrow is going to be like I can't say. What I know is that if people really want to work with me as for now they must just be prepared to work with me in my current capacity in the MDC. I don't think I will be easily moved but I have heard their calls and I respect them. Only God knows what the future holds but for now I am fully committed to the MDC and don't see any immediate plans shifting me from my stance." Said Maduma in a whatsapp response.