Mujuru's ZimPF attacks Dabengwa's Zapu

In an explosive case of poor press management, the Zimbabwe People First through its Bulawayo Provincial Spokesperson Dr Geneva Sibanda yesterday (Sunday) released a scathing attack on ZAPU and its president Dr Dumiso Dabengwa.

The unsolicited attack was a direct response to the successful Zapu congress which was held at City Amphitheatre over the weekend. Zimbabwe People First Bulawayo provincial spokesperson, Dr Geneva Sibanda likened ZAPU leader to a "donkey meat". In the same communication Sibanda went on to describe the chosen ZAPU executive to "recycled dead wood". This attack drew an immediate angry response from ZAPU deputy Information and Publicity Mr Iphithule Maphosa.

ZAPU had over the weekend held its congress at City Amphitheatre where it retained Dr D Dabengwa as its president. Laura Makuzva was elected its vice president. Jacob J Dube clinched the post of National treasurer while Strike Mkandla was elected the secretary general. Imphithule Maphosa was elected as the deputy information and publicity. Mark Mbayiwa was elected the Secretary for economic affairs, Vuyo Mpofu was elected Secretary for Internal affairs, whle D Muchakachi was eelected Secretary for legal affairs.

Dr G sibanda received a backlash from his own party members after posting the scathing statement on social media WhatsApp group using his mobile cell number 0779 *** ***.  Dr G Sibanda likened ZAPU to a dreamer "with new tyres but prefers to galvanise old threaded ones in this scotchy heat and expect miracles". He then urged ZAPU members to jump of "the sinking ship". The disgruntled ZimPF   members immediately responded and expressed anger at its leadership as they felt it had no ground commenting on ZAPU business. Through Whatsapp chats made available, the Bulawayo Provincial coordinator Pastor Esnath Bulayani apologised on behalf of Zim-Pf and its leadership.  This however did not deter the complaints from members some of whom left ZAPU to join ZimPF after hearing the peace and tolerance gospel preached by its leader Dr JTR Mujuru and hence felt dubbed and let down by the hate language in the communique'.

Imphithule Maphosa , the newly elected Zapu deputy for information released a statement condemning the article by Dr G Sibanda. Mr I Maphosa stated that the statement by Dr G Sibanda was "worrisome reading to many and ZAPU in particular". In an apparent hint which might dent the prospect of a fully fledged coalition Mr I Maphosa expressed that "ZimPF has decided to disrespect choice of leadership by majority of ZAPU members". In an overt showdown statement that may leave relations between both parties bruised, Mr I Maphosa said "for them to liken him(Dr D Daabengwa) to donkey meat defeats the whole essence of brotherhood, posing a serious threat to coalition initiative currently underway…instead ZimPF should copy and follow in our democratic foot steps and hold its own congress."

This seemingly fall out flies in the face of Zim-PF leader DR JTR Mujuru who for the past few weeks has been courting different parties to a coalition table. Dr JTR Mujuru held a combined NERA march on Friday with 18 other political parties which are signatory to the NERA document.  Her statement over the last two months since the inception of her rallies has been the call for unity and political tolerance. She has since won over many parties such as PDP after extending an olive branch. It remains to be seen how Zim-PF will repair the damaged relations caused by Dr G Sibanda's statement as this is antagonistic to Dr JTR Mujuru's drive of winning hearts of Zimbabwean voters through a coalition.

Dr G Sibanda is an academic educated abroad. He did his tertiary education at Richmond American Univerity for his first degree in international relations. He also enrolled at Glamogarn university in 2006 for his law degree before doing his masters in 2009 at Cosmos university UK majoring in Social work.  By year 2012 he was still studying for his PhD  at Portsmouth Univeristy.  In 2013 he ran for a Bubi parliamentary seat as an independent where he got 280 votes against ZanuPF's Clifford Sibanda's  10 800 votes.

Dr G sibanda was not available for comment. However unnamed sources told this reporter that Dr G Sibanda had made himself unpopular with ZimPF members who feel the statement issued was unwarranted and might result in serious backlash if not handled properly.

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Sindisiwe Mkandla <sindisiwemkandla@gmail.com