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Zapu rebels revive original Zapu
6 hrs ago | Views
A group of former ZAPU members yesterday officially unveiled a new political party called the (Original) O ZAPU during a vibrant launch event held in Bulawayo.
The party is led by Mathew Sibanda, a senior ex-ZAPU official who was expelled in 2022 after opposing Sibangilizwe Nkomo's bid for the ZAPU presidency. Sibangilizwe is the son of the late Joshua Nkomo, ZAPU's founding leader and former vice president of Zimbabwe.
Sibanda and five others - known as the "Mat South Five" - challenged Sibangilizwe's nomination and election in court. However, their case was dismissed in 2021 by High Court judge Bongani Ndlovu, who upheld both the nomination and election results.
Speaking at the launch, Sibanda insisted that their new party was not a fresh formation but a revival of the original ZAPU, claiming that the party's constitution was violated when Sibangilizwe assumed leadership.
"In fact, we are not forming a new party. We are reviving the original ZAPU because the party's constitution was violated when Sibangilizwe took over the presidency," said Sibanda, who now serves as interim president of O ZAPU.
He alleged that Sibangilizwe was not a card-carrying member at the time of his election and had never served in any official party structure.
"I was ZAPU's chairperson for Matabeleland South, and I can confirm that Sibangilizwe was not in any structures in the province. The ZAPU constitution is very clear: one must rise through the ranks, from branch level to national, to hold office," Sibanda stated.
"He was simply imposed because he is the son of the party's late commander."
Sibanda further accused Sibangilizwe of forging membership credentials to qualify for the leadership contest. He also criticized the current ZAPU leadership for straying from the party's founding ideals and losing political relevance.
"During the previous elections, the party failed to field candidates for both council and parliamentary seats in Bulawayo. Even the president himself did not contest," Sibanda added.
Looking ahead, Sibanda pledged that if O ZAPU gains power, it will prioritise infrastructure development and the revitalization of Zimbabwe's struggling healthcare system.
The launch event attracted significant attention and was attended by the Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) vice president Sibongile Banda, MRP secretary for Legal Affairs Nkosilathi Khanye, and delegates from all ten provinces.
Stylish Magida was announced as the interim secretary general of O ZAPU.
The emergence of O ZAPU signals a fresh chapter in Zimbabwe's opposition landscape, rooted in disputes over party leadership and ideological direction within the historical liberation movement.
The party is led by Mathew Sibanda, a senior ex-ZAPU official who was expelled in 2022 after opposing Sibangilizwe Nkomo's bid for the ZAPU presidency. Sibangilizwe is the son of the late Joshua Nkomo, ZAPU's founding leader and former vice president of Zimbabwe.
Sibanda and five others - known as the "Mat South Five" - challenged Sibangilizwe's nomination and election in court. However, their case was dismissed in 2021 by High Court judge Bongani Ndlovu, who upheld both the nomination and election results.
Speaking at the launch, Sibanda insisted that their new party was not a fresh formation but a revival of the original ZAPU, claiming that the party's constitution was violated when Sibangilizwe assumed leadership.
"In fact, we are not forming a new party. We are reviving the original ZAPU because the party's constitution was violated when Sibangilizwe took over the presidency," said Sibanda, who now serves as interim president of O ZAPU.
He alleged that Sibangilizwe was not a card-carrying member at the time of his election and had never served in any official party structure.
"I was ZAPU's chairperson for Matabeleland South, and I can confirm that Sibangilizwe was not in any structures in the province. The ZAPU constitution is very clear: one must rise through the ranks, from branch level to national, to hold office," Sibanda stated.
"He was simply imposed because he is the son of the party's late commander."
Sibanda further accused Sibangilizwe of forging membership credentials to qualify for the leadership contest. He also criticized the current ZAPU leadership for straying from the party's founding ideals and losing political relevance.
"During the previous elections, the party failed to field candidates for both council and parliamentary seats in Bulawayo. Even the president himself did not contest," Sibanda added.
Looking ahead, Sibanda pledged that if O ZAPU gains power, it will prioritise infrastructure development and the revitalization of Zimbabwe's struggling healthcare system.
The launch event attracted significant attention and was attended by the Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) vice president Sibongile Banda, MRP secretary for Legal Affairs Nkosilathi Khanye, and delegates from all ten provinces.
Stylish Magida was announced as the interim secretary general of O ZAPU.
The emergence of O ZAPU signals a fresh chapter in Zimbabwe's opposition landscape, rooted in disputes over party leadership and ideological direction within the historical liberation movement.
Source - The Standard
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