Confusion reigns in Zapu-SA

JOHANNESBURG - Confusion still reigns in Zapu SA province. Some members of the opposition party are mobilising for district elections in the once-powerful Yeoville district, but others say that is a non-starter and daggers have been drawn.

If they go ahead, the elections will be the fourth in the same district in less than two years. Normally, they should be held once in five years.

Apparently, all previous outcomes were nullified for no apparent reason as members of the crisis-torn party jostle for positions.

In the last two weeks some disgruntled and suspended members have been holding constant unsanctioned meetings claiming to have the mandate from the party's National Executive Council to build up the party as the current Province has failed executing duties.

Dumisani Matshelela, the chief architecture and once the deputy to former provincial rebel leader, George Mkhwanazi (now MDC-T) is one of those fighting for the district chair's post and lobbying behind his name is strong with continued several meetings being held at Yeoville Recreational Centre Park.

The disgruntled members claimed that Diaspora publicist Luke Sayi, favoured by party President, Dumiso Dabengwa, manipulated the election document, which did not allow some of the party members, including youths to participate in the violence-riddled elections of last year. In the same election, suspended youth member, Mlamuli Nkomo, a former interim Publicist Officer, was assaulted and had the windscreen of his car smashed by a former Zipra member and current Head of V.I.P Msimanga, while Future Msebele, another party's youth member, was also assaulted at the controversial congress by eventual deputy chair, Austin Dube.

The Council of Elders representatives Fortune Ndlovu and Chris Ncube vowed that they won't allow desperate members to do as they please in the party.

"Last year we ended up suspending rogue members in the party and we will never allow any elections to take part here. We want them to focus on building branches of about 1000 members per branch and we can talk of building other two branches then we can talk of elections but as long as someone aims for a position without working, they must forget it as we don't believe in ghost branches they claimed to have. We know all those members who went to MDC failed to get positions and now they are back on their destructions methods," said Ncube swearing with his life.

"The last we had District elections we were serious, and the outcome still and will remain till 2016. Whoever aims for a position must wait till that time. We are tired of people trying to confuse our supporters," added Ndlovu.

Surprisingly, its two months before the suspension of 16 members is lifted but the same suspended members are already jostling for positions before their fate is reviewed. Since its launch Zapu SA province has been dodged by infighting and non-progress.

Dabengwa and his national executive members took a lackadaisical approach to resolving the infighting issue which slowly ate the party away and leaving it with less than 100 supporters.

Already, The Zimbabwean has it on good authority that Zipra and party members, including some members of the former Zanu PF Politburo member's trusted Council of Elders, wrote a letter to Dabengwa's office recalling the 73-year-old, who has been blamed for the persistent infighting within the party.

Dabengwa has also been accused of being the divisive force within Zapu by disregarding proper communication channels when dealing with provinces.

Suspended members includes former party's chairman for Pretoria district, George Mkhwanazi, who was the leader of the renegade faction, the party's former head of policy and strategy, Mgidliza Mwelase, former chairman for Lookout Masuku district (Yeoville), Noel Behane, Bantubenkosi Sithole, Ian Ncube, Mthukutheli Ndlovu, Nsununguli Mbongolwane, Mbuso Dlodlo and Alice Mutembwa.

Regina Sibindi, Inocent Moyo, Sipho Mpofu, Elson Zanza, Fanuel Sibanda and Father Nunu complete the list of members that have been suspended, after the party's national leadership told the South African leadership to act on the rot.

Zapu's provincial Publicist, Busani Bhalagwe refuted claims of mobilising towards a district saying the party is building its branches and nothing more. He emphasised that anyone caught on the wrong side of the law will be severely dealt with by party elders. "Whoever said we are lobbying for a district in Greater Johannesburg is lying, we won't have any elections soon here. Only Durban, North West and Pretoria will have elections. We have our structures in place here so there is no need for elections," added Bhalagwe contradicting himself to the elder Chris Ncube who earlier mentioned that there are no branches in Yeoville and only elections will be held when they mobilise more than 1000 people.